This year, Science Week, co-ordinated by Research Ireland, is celebrating 30 years of curiosity and collaboration to advance science in Ireland.
South East Science Festival 2025 in Waterford is set to take place this weekend as part of this year’s campaign. More than 10 festivals and events across Waterford will run from the 9th-16th in co-ordination with Calmast, SETU’s STEM engagement centre.
The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Then. Today. Tomorrow’, encouraging people to explore how science and research have shaped and improved the lives we live today, while also looking at the questions and challenges of tomorrow, and how insights from the past can influence our future decisions.
Science Week Events
Bubbly Science with Caroline Ainslie – Sunday, November 9, 12:00 PM & 3:30 PM, Theatre Royal, Waterford: Join bubble expert Caroline Ainslie for a colourful, interactive exploration of the science of breath, balloons, and bubbles, with hands-on experiments and fascinating physics.
Limitless – Mark the Science Guy – Sunday, November 9, 2:00 PM & 5:15 PM, Theatre Royal, Waterford: Join climate scientist and broadcaster Mark Langtry, “The Science Guy,” for a high-energy, interactive science show exploring the extremes of our planet.
Coastal Cartography: Science Café & Panel Discussion – Sunday, November 16, 2:00 PM–5:00 PM, The Book Bar, Waterford City: Bringing together scientists, artists, and the community, this reflective closing event celebrates Waterford’s connection to its coastline through storytelling, ecology, and creative mapping. Hosted by ecologist Tasneem Khan and WLR presenter Aoibhín Fallon, this Science Café blends science communication with local storytelling, offering a thoughtful, people-focused angle.
Other events in the area and across the country can be found at www.scienceweek.ie. You can also follow developments using the hashtag #scienceweek #Then.Today.Tomorrow.
Minister Lawless announces funding package for Science Week
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has announced €847,820 in funding to support 14 festivals and hundreds of events taking place nationwide as part of Science Week 2025.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Lawless said: “I am delighted to announce my department’s support for this year’s programme with over €847,000 in funding for 36 projects. Science shapes every minute of our daily lives, from protecting the environment to driving healthcare and technological innovation, and so much more besides.”
Commenting on Science Week, Director of Science for Society at Research Ireland, Dr Ruth Freeman, said: “For 30 years, Science Week has been sparking curiosity and bringing people together through science. Our anniversary theme of ‘Then. Today. Tomorrow.’ is a chance to both celebrate the endeavours of yesteryear that have brought us to where we are today, and to consider what may lie ahead for individuals, families, communities, Ireland, and the entire planet. We’re delighted to see such a wide range of events taking place across the country again this year.”
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