Science Week activities in Westmeath

There’s something for everyone in Westmeath during Science Week which starts on Saturday, November 8, thanks to the Midlands Science Festival, supported by Research Ireland.

Midlands Science will explore a number of topics from astronomy to zoology, workshops with the Reptile Zoo and the Exploration Dome, Ireland’s largest mobile planetarium, being focal points of the annual event.

Activities in Westmeath include a range of shows with BAFTA award-winning science communicator Simon Watt, an evening with broadcaster Eanna Ní Lamhna and workshops with Sea School exploring the environment.

The festival also includes a fully booked out Teddy Bears Hospital, the RSCI Paediatrics Society, in Athlone. Teddies who are brought along can have a full check-up and everyone learns a little about science and medicine.

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science commented: “This year is the 30th anniversary of Science Week and with five days to go, most events are now booked out with waiting lists. When we started doing these public science events many years ago, we weren’t sure if the interest would be there but the answer this year is loud and clear – people in the midlands want to engage with science. Whether it’s teddy bears, lizards, the night’s sky or understanding our own skin, people have lots of questions which science can answer.”

The theme this year for Science Week is 'Then, Today, Tomorrow', celebrating the past, present and future of science. There are also a number of activities running in the midlands which groups can get involved with such as a Book Club Reading Guide, all clubs who take part can get in touch to have a speaker attending their next meeting.

A competition also ran for young people to describe what Ireland will be like in 30 years from now and the winners will be announced during Science Week.

Midlands Science also produced a documentary exploring AI and technology, taking a trip back to 1995 and forward to 2055 with Apple Tart Productions and Dr Nickstrom.

In 2026, Midlands Science will be celebrating 25 years of providing free science outreach to the people in the region, having reached 160,000 during that time.

It provides a range of free school and youth group activities all year round and more details can be found on www.midlandscience.ie.