It’s something to keep an ion, kids!

Lab coats at the ready Leeside! The programme for this year’s Cork Science Festival has just been announced.

Running from 13-20 November, the festival will showcase the best Cork has to offer across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

This year’s programme features a packed calendar of free public events including expert talks, behind the scenes science tours, industry open days, lab visits, workshops, action packed live science shows, at home activities, and a school’s programme throughout the week.

The festival will take place in venues and schools throughout Cork. Centres of science including UCC, MTU, and Tyndall will also open their doors to the public to showcase their scientific endeavours.

One of the big highlights this year is the Celebrate Science Family Day taking place from 11am-5pm on 13 November at the Western Gateway Building in UCC. The free to attend event features a combination of sit-down science shows, hands on workshops and drop-in tabletop activity stands.

Another highlight is ‘Skin Deep: The connection between skin health & the microbiome’ event which will take place in Hayfield Manor on 16 November from 7pm. The event will be hosted by Kathriona Devereux and should be of great appeal to anyone interested in health and beauty.

Families can also sign up to participate in at home science activities by visiting corksciencefestival.ie/clickandplay.

Cork Science Festival programme co-ordinator Mervyn Horgan said: “We know it just takes one spark to ignite curiosity and creativity in the STEAM subjects so that is our goal again this year! We hope to inspire future astronauts, astrologers, chemists, physicists, biologists, engineers, and researchers!”