Irish Marine Institute and the Explorers team take part in Galway Science & Technology Festival

Lisa Fitzpatrick - Marine Institute (Left) with Sea for Society educational material at the Galway Science Festival.

The Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria recently took part in the Galway Science and Technology Festival promoting Ireland’s marine resource. The one-day exhibition was held at the National University of Ireland Galway and attracted over 20,000 visitors. 

Adults and children enjoy learning about
Ireland's marine territory - which is ten times
the size of it's land area.

“This event is a fantastic day for children and the public to immerse themselves in all things science with a wide range of inter-active stands on show,” said Lisa Fitzpatrick of the Marine Institute, which promoted Ireland’s marine resource through both the Real Map of Ireland materials available online from www.marine.ie and the Sea for Society  video, highlighting the importance of ocean science. 

Joanne Casserly of the Explorers Education Programme
explains how starfish feed and move around the seashore

Galway Atlantaquaria also promoted the Explorers Education Programme, which is funded by the Marine Institute.  Using the Explorers touch tank, the seashore was brought to the event where children and adults learned about the science of the popular animals such as the starfish, dogfish, anemone and plaice.

OVER 300 TRANSITION YEAR STUDENTS VISIT IRISH MARINE INSTITUTE

Over 300 transition years students from Galway and further afield visited the Marine Institute recently as part of the Galway Science & Technology Festival held on the west coast of Ireland.

Transition Year students got to take part in 'CSI' experiments 
with Triona McGrath in the chemistry labs during their visit to the 
Marine Institute in Oranmore (Photo: Andrew Downes)

The students met scientists and staff, discovered the wide ranging work of the Marine Institute and got a glimpse of what it would be like to work in marine research.

Dr Peter Heffernan - Chief Executive of the Marine Institute - said, “We’re delighted to open our doors to students today and we hope they’ll be inspired by the people they meet here and by work that we’re doing to understand our unique ocean resources.

David O'Sullivan talks about Ireland's extensive seabed resource
and the INFOMAR programme (Photo: Andrew Downes)

“Some of the students may even go on to become ocean explorers as marine biologists, oceanographers, geographers, mapping the seabed or as engineers, developing novel marine renewable energy devices. There are many opportunities, particularly with a national and EU focus on the potential of the ‘blue economy’ with the Government plan – Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth and the European Commission’s Atlantic Strategy.”

The visit included a talk by Helen McCormick, Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services on the work of the Marine Institute, a Sea for Society video showing the importance of our ocean resource, and an exhibition on marine careers and training opportunities, including our own annual bursar programme for third level students.

Chloe Glynn, Aoife Duffy and Sarah Murphy from Seamount College,
Kinvara got to learn more about marine technology while using the
mini Remotely Operated Vehicleat the Marine Institute in Oranmore, Galway.
(Photo: Andrew Downes).

Staff and scientists demonstrated their work using, touch screen interactive seabed maps, fish samples and even a mini submarine. They answered well thought out questions on their work in fisheries science, seabed mapping, seafood safety, oceanography, ocean chemistry and research vessel operations.