On November 14th iCRAG will be hosting European Geoscience Day during Science Week (November 10-17th).
European Geoscience Day will see four events taking place around Ireland under the theme of “Marine Geoscience for All”:
Event 1 – Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
Venue: National Maritime Museum, Dun Laoghaire, 11am – 5pm
We all inhabit a vast, interconnected ecosystem, where every being - no matter how big or small - plays a vital role in fostering a harmonious world. Among these, Planktonic Foraminifera, or Forams, are tiny microscopic organisms with an outsized importance. These tiny beings hold essential clues about the Earth's ancient climate patterns, helping us to better understand the effects of our rapidly changing climate. 'Foram' explores how all things, even what can appear as the most isolated and marginalised elements of our world, play a crucial role in protecting our planet.
'Foram' builds on artist AlanJames Burns' own lived experience and their disability focused arts practice, exploring how Climate Change disproportionately impacts marginalised and disability communities. 'Foram' is a celebration of diverse perspectives, voices and lived experiences and how the power of inclusive collaboration can reshape the world towards a more just and sustainable future.
Through a public talk and installation, 'Foram' presents research from Burns's artistic residency on board the Celtic Explorer research cruise CE23011. This expedition, led by chief scientist and collaborator Dr. Audrey Morley from the University of Galway and iCRAG, ventured to one of the most remote regions on Earth in July 2023. Here, amidst the icy expanses of the Arctic Ocean and the Greenland coast, the research team studied Forams— small yet significant organisms that can help us unravel the mysteries of our planet's past, and perhaps, safeguard its future.
Event 2 – Leenane, Co. Mayo
Venue: Leenane Hotel, Co. Mayo, 11am-2pm
Event 2 in the west takes place in the village of Leenane, the marine gateway to the Joyce Country and Western Lakes geopark, and home to Ireland’s only fjord. The event will be delivered by Geological Survey Ireland, the geopark geologist and the local heritage officer.
In the style of an Irish “meitheal” (ancient tradition of a group coming together for a common purpose), the geoscience meitheal will span generations, bringing primary school children, teachers and retired people together to share stories of the local geological landscape, placenames and myths about Leenane fjord. Akin to sitting around a “virtual” fire, the facilitated geoscience meitheal will lead to cross-generational conversations on local and global geoscience challenges. Delivery will be through Irish and English languages, in a way that is accessible to all.
Event 3 – Dundalk, Co. Louth
Venue: secondary schools in Dundalk: 9am-4pm
Event 3 takes place in Dundalk, Co. Louth, featuring a number of secondary school workshops and led by iCRAG's Get into Geoscience programme. During the day the students will be led on a beach walk by iCRAG scientists where they will take sediment cores, learn about the plants of the area and learn about the water quality in the area. iCRAG scientists will be on hand to show the students how to take core samples, lead discussion of what the sediments in the cores show.
Event 4 - University College Cork
Venue: Main campus, UCC, 10am-3pm, 4pm-7pm
The Cork Fossil Expo, led by Ireland's Fossil Heritage, will be a full-day event that will leverage the unique charisma of fossils to inspire curiosity in the geosciences. The event will be held on the main campus of University College Cork. It will feature an exciting array of tried-and-tested hands-on activities (developed by the Ireland’s Fossil Heritage project) that are designed to promote kinaesthetic learning and problem-solving. The activities are structured to encourage scientific enquiry, to help participants to develop confidence in their scientific ability and to form positive attitudes towards the geosciences.
The proposed activities will include various user-friendly experiments and games, including the very successful Fossil Crime Scene, Walk Like a Dinosaur, the Wheel of Misfortune, Fossil Footprints, Fossil Mix and Match, Fossil Sandpit, Under the Microscope, and a Make Your Own Fossil activity. The event will also feature many real-life fossils from Ireland and beyond that visitors can touch and hold. The expo will be open to school groups during the school day (10 am – 3 pm) and will open to the general public in the evening (4 pm – 7 pm).
European Geoscience Day is funded by the European Geosciences Union. Foram is funded by the SFI Science Week call.
