Teagasc all set for Science Week

Teagasc is hosting a series of exciting events for Science Week (November 12-19). Many of Teagasc’s research centres around the country will open their doors for school and college visits, where students will get to perform hands-on experiments and find out about careers in STEM. Teagasc will host two events for the general public – in Dublin and Carlow.
Catriona Boyle, Teagasc science communication and outreach officer said: “The theme of this year’s event is ‘Believe in Science’. Attendees will learn about a wide variety of topics and how they apply to their everyday lives including: food for health, food product development and improvement, food safety, sustainability of animal and plant production, healthy soils & biodiversity and the development of rural areas”.
A Taste of Food Science & More
A Taste of Food Science & More is an Open Evening on Monday, November 13 (6-9pm) at Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15: Meet some of our researchers and find out more about the science of food and how this relates to you and what you eat. How do we use all our senses to relate to food? How clean are your hands? What makes a good steak? How easy is it to grow your own vegetables? What exactly is gluten? Get the answers to these and many more questions at this open evening. Tickets can be reserved on EventBrite.
60 Minute Science
Every wondered how our senses contribute to our enjoyment of food? Or if the spud really is humble? Discover these answers and more at “60 minute Science”, a free evening of science talks this Science Week at Visual Carlow on Thursday, November 16 from 7.30pm. Presented by RTÉ’s Jonathan McCrea. With music, refreshments and lots more, reserve your ticket today by contacting the Box Office on 059 917 2400 or email: boxoffice@visualcarlow.ie. 

Events for Schools and Colleges 
HEALTHY STARTS HERE
November 14 - Teagasc, Grange, Co Meath is hosting primary school students from the Trinity Access Programme.
FROM FARM TO FORK
November 14 - Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork is organising a fun day for secondary school students who will visit the dairy research farm and find out what happens to milk when it's processed.
SPUD SCIENCE
November 14 - Teagasc, Oak Park Crops Research Centre, Carlow will host students from Carlow Institute of Technology and Pearse College, Dublin, to explore the science behind the potato, from breeding new varieties to producing the perfect crisp. Talks and demonstrations will be held in the breeding facilities and will cover aspects of breeding, agronomy, biotechnology and processing.
SCIENCE WEEK AT JOHNSTOWN CASTLE
November 14 & 15 - Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford. Local primary school children will visit the research facilities to enjoy a tour of growth chambers, laboratories, field trials and the dairy farm. The children, who are preparing to exhibit some experiments at the primary fair at the BT Young Scientist exhibition, will have contact time with PhD students and get to try some hands-on experiments.
FOOD AND ANIMAL SCIENCE
November 15 - Teagasc, Grange, Co Meath will give farm and laboratory demonstrations of science applied to food production and animal health for secondary school students.
‘EWE’ WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SHEEP?
November 15 - Teagasc, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co Galway 
Teagasc Athenry opens its Research Centre to students from local secondary schools. The exhibits on display include: animal science; sheep breeds; grassland and the environment; and, careers in agriculture.
Teagasc Women in STEM 
Teagasc is launching a new publication ‘Teagasc Women in STEM’ this Science Week. According to Jane Kavanagh, Head of Research Operations: “Teagasc is committed to promoting careers in STEM and is actively engaged in many science outreach events, such as Science Week and BTYSTE. The purpose of this publication is to highlight women who are working in STEM, to show the diverse range of careers available in agri-food research arising from studying science-related courses at second and third level and to hopefully provide female students with potential role models that they can relate to”.  
Sport, Nutrition and the Microbiome
Exercise and healthy eating are the most powerful ways in which we can influence our health.  If you are an aspiring sports person, are involved in training/coaching sports people or you would just like to learn a bit more about how to combine food and exercise to enhance your level of fitness and health come along to hear and discuss the latest developments with scientists and sports people who are experienced in this area. Teagasc’s Paul Cotter will speak at a public form about ‘Microbes for Sport – the Implications for Exercise and Nutrition’ in Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Monday, November 13 (7pm).
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here 
This is an online outreach competition for scientists, where school students are the judges, and it’s taking place November 6-17 at https://imascientist.ie/. Three Teagasc researchers will be participating in the Food Zone - Gonzalo Delgado-Pando (Meat Scientist in Meat Technology Ireland), Golnaz Ezzati (Soil Scientist in Teagasc’s Agricultural Catchments Programme) and Ciara O’Donovan (PhD candidate in Teagasc and the APC Microbiome Institute). 
Level Up Human
‘Level Up Human’ with Comedians Neil Delamare and Simon Watt takes a light hearted look at what it means to be human, and what the alternatives might be. Julie O’Sullivan (PhD candidate in Teagasc and the APC Microbiome Institute) is taking part in this event on Friday November 17, which will result in a podcast.
The ‘Festival of Farming and Food – SFI Science Week at Teagasc’ is kindly sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland as part of the Science Week Festivals programme and organised by Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority. All events are free, however pre-booking is required.
For more information on all of Teagasc’s Science Week events click here: http://www.sfi.ie/events/festivals/festival-of-farming-and-f/