Past Events
1996 June 19-21
RDS Conference on Science Centres for Ireland
The Proceedings of the Conference were published by the RDS in 1997.
1996 September 20 ,
Public Lecture at RDS, Dublin 4
Prof. Richard Gregory on Hands-on, Minds-on
1996 September 21
Inaugural Meeting of ISCAN at the RDS chaired by Prof. Dervilla Donnelly
1997 March 23
Spring Meeting at Exploris Aquarium, Portaferry, Co. Down
Tadhg Condon: ScienceWorks in Tralee
Fiona Barbagallo: Science Centres in Australia
1997 August 30
Special Meeting at Dunsink Observatory
Dr Mike Gore of Questacon on Science Centres Down Under
1997 September 26
Autumn Meeting at Dunsink Observatory, Dublin 15
Brigid Roden & Ann Scroope: Phase 2 of Ireland's Historic Science Centre
Peter Wilson / Michelle Griffin: Dublin Zoo in a Changing World
Garrett Campbell & Anna Doran: Sonaírte - The National Ecology Centre
Caroline Nolan: The Proposed Seal Sanctuary at Exploris
Sheila Gilheany: The Irish Centre for Talented Youth
Ian Russell of Interactive Science Ltd., Derbyshire on 'Hands-on, minds-on, HEARTS-on'
Jorge Wagensberg of Museu de la Ciència, Barcelona on 'Regular scientific research as a tool for creating unique new exhibits'
1998 February 3
Special Meeting at DIAS, Dublin 4
Howie Firth and Christiane Berodias on Science Festivals
1998 March 28
Spring Meeting at The Ulster Museum, Belfast
Graham Durant of the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow: The Scottish Science Trust
Aisling Byrne of the Science Museum, London: The Wellcome Wing exhibitions at the Science Museum
Sally Montgomery of the Ulster Museum: The Odyssey Project
Damian McFerran of the Ulster Museum: The Centre for Environmental Data and Recording
Eugene Forde: The Forfás Awareness Programme
John Donovan: The Irish Research Scientists' Association
1998 May 28
Launch at the RDS by Mr Noel Treacy, Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce of the Blueprint for a National Irish Science Centre and the Proceedings of the RDS Conference on Science Centres for Ireland
1998 October 31
Autumn Meeting at Geology Dept., NUI-Galway on Stories in Stone
Opening by Mr Noel Tracey, TD, Minister for Science, Technology & Commerce
Martin Critchley of ERA-Maptec: The Tourist Potential of Old Mines
Paul Adam of Shannon Development: The Shallee Project
Pat & Paddy Geoghegan: The Glengowla Mine, Oughterard
Nick Coy: The Avoca Project
W. Ian Mitchell, Geological Survey N.I.: Landscapes from Stone
Roger Johnston: The Aillwee Cave
Conor Burns: The Marble Arch Caves
Paddy Maher / Roger Johnston: The Liscannor Stone Story
Keynote speaker: Roy Hawkey*, Head of Education at the Natural History Museum, London: Bringing Earth Science to Life
Nigel Monaghan: The National Museum of Ireland and the Earth Sciences
Tom Mason: Recent Developments at Armagh Eartharium
Patrick Wyse Jackson: Paths of Stone: Promoting Urban Geology in Ireland
1999 April 24
Spring Meeting at EPA HQ, Wexford on Understanding the Environment
Geraldine Ruane: The Public Awareness Programme of the Environmental Protection Agency
Eileen Lawlor: Public Access to Environmental Information in Ireland
Jim Hurley: The South Wexford Coast: a Case Study in Environmental Interpretation
Evan Byrne: A Brief History of Soil Science at Johnstown Castle
Caroline Nolan: From Information Provision to Active Management of the Environment
Billy Reid: ecos millennium environmental centre
Bryan Maguire: Enabling the Information Society: third level educational institutions and their publics
Ray Wilson: Growth, Science and Sustainable Development
1999 October 15
Special meeting at Dunsink Observatory, Dublin 15
Alex Barnett of the UK National Space Science Centre on Adventures at 2 in the Morning
1999 October 16
Autumn Meeting at Armagh Planetarium and Navan Fort on Explaining Science Informally
Rick LeVert: Exhibiting Evolution
Peter Childs: Chemistry in Museums: elementary or not?
Nigel Buttimore: Mathematics in the Taichung Science Museum, Taiwan
Alex Barnett: The UK National Space Science Centre - Education by Stealth
Majella Kelleher: Explaining Energy
Raymond Greer: Explaining Physics
2000 May 6
Spring Meeting at Ireland's Historic Science Centre, Birr on Touring Exhibitions
Keynote Speaker:Lizzy Cox, Natural History Museum, London: From Amman to Zurich, the A-Z of Touring Exhibitions
Discussion: Promoting Temporary Exhibitions in Ireland
Tour of the exhibition in the Stables with designer Ann Scroope as guide
Demonstration of the Telescope
2000 October 7
Autumn Meeting at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin on
Thinking Plants & Planting Thoughts
Felicity Gaffney: First Steps in Public Education at Glasnevin
Matthew Jebb: Hidden Marriages and Phantom Pregnancies
Keynote Speaker: Dr Peter Wyse Jackson, Secretary General of BGCI on
The Role of Botanic Gardens in the 21st Century
Fiona Doris & Jack Sullivan: Upward Bound in Dublin's Liberties
Mary Waldron: Modern Gardening and the Green Agenda
Con O'Rourke: Can Biotechnology and Organic Farming be Friends?
Tom Mason: Fossil Woodworm
2001 September 29
Excursion from Dublin to W5 (whowhatwherewhenwhy) at the Odyssey Centre in Belfast
2001 November 24
Autumn Meeting at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin on
Science Learning - Formal and Informal
Aine Allen: Task Force on the Physical Sciences - Issues and Progress
Marion Palmer: Primary Science
Keynote Speaker: Jacob Beeksma, Jonge Onderzoekers (Young Explorers) on
The Dutch Experience of Science Clubs
Padraig Kirk: The STEPS Programme
Leo Enright: Introducing GeeWhizz ScienceWatch
Mario Di Maggio: The KwaZuzulwazi Science Centre in Durban, S. Africa
Mark Leslie: Interactive Learning Experiences for Science and Cultural Centres
2002 May 11
Spring Meeting at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7 on
The Science - Arts Interface
Sile O’Modhrain: Playing with feeling - incorporating touch feedback into computer-based musical instruments
Michael Alcorn: SARC - A world-class research centre for music technology in Ireland
Grace Weir: My work
Keynote Speaker: Marc Girard, Director of Exhibitions, Cité des Sciences, Paris on
The arts at the Cité des Sciences: ends, means and effects
Anna Hill: Interactive art
Mic Moroney: The Consilient Instinct: is there an Arts-Science Interface?
Mark Leslie: Humanising the sciences
Denis Weaire: Musings of a philomorph
2002 October 5
Autumn Meeting at Limerick Institute of Technology on
Science and the Quality of Life
Philip Walton: Our non-ionising radiation environment; are there any health risks?
Paul Kellett: Explaining Ireland's Vast renewable Energy Opportunity
Martin Knox: The Production of Chemicals and Environmental Protection - irreconcilable activities?
Eamonn de Stafort: Silvermines: an overview
Paul McCrory: Courting controversy - how can science centres tackle contemporary scientific issues?
Michael Grehan: Hands-on Physics
2003 May 24
Spring Meeting at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7 on
New Ways of Presenting Science
Robert Hill: Engaging Youth in Space
Andrina Moore: Marketing Science to the Masses
Keynote Speaker: Mario Di Maggio, Glasgow Science Centre on
The Eternal Dome of the Sky: why planetariums are more precious than ever in the 21st Century
Stephanie O'Neill: Primary Science Clubs
Jack Sullivan: The Demise of Irish Science Teaching: The Rise of Curious Children
2003 November 22-23
iSCAN Visit to the Glasgow Science Centre
2004 May 15
Spring Meeting at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7 on
Starting Young
Michael Grehan & Paul Nugent: The iSCAN Visit to the Glasgow Science Centre
Sheila Donegan: CALMAST - The Centre for the Advancement of Learning, Maths, Science and Technology
Keynote Speaker: Jerome Krause, formerly of the Ontario Science Centre on
Growing up with Science
Christine Domegan: The Children's Discovery Museum in Galway
Sally Mongomery: W5 Three years on - how did we do and what's next?
Michael John Gorman: Arkimedia:Building Connections between Science and Artistic Creativity
2004 November 6
Autumn Meeting at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 on
Maths for All
George Humphrey: Demystifying Mathematics
Siddhartha Sen: Hamilton's Great Idea
Keynote Speaker: Rob Eastaway, Author and Lecturer on
How not to be Avoided at Parties
Philip Boland: Statistical Graphics - Opportunities for Projects and Data Analysis in the Classroom
Alan Herbert: So who needs Maths anyway?
2006 May 20
Spring Meeting at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7 on
New Initiatives
Mark Leslie: The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre
Diarmuid O'Brien: The Science Gallery
Jane Jerry: The Exploration Station
Christopher Moriarty: Enlivening the Dead Zoo
Nigel Monaghan: Art meets Science at the Natural History Museum