The 11th Robert Boyle Summer School runs from June 22 to 25 in Waterford city and in Boyle’s birthplace, Lismore. The long-awaited, four day event is programmed for people with an interest in science, history, culture, debate, discussion and deep thinking to the region.
Registration is now open and the full programme of events can be viewed now on https://www.robertboyle.ie/11th-robert-boyle-summer-school-2023/
Multiple events run over four days and the theme for this year’s boutique festival which comes almost 400 years after Boyle’s birth is ‘Science Writing/Writing Science’.
The 2023 Robert Boyle Summer School opens on Thursday 22 June with an event in City Hall, Waterford. Friday’s morning programme will focus on Robert Boyle and his sisters and includes sessions with Prof Michael Hunter: The Writing of Robert Boyle and Dr Ann-Maria Walsh: The Correspondence of the Boyle Sisters.
The Afternoon will feature presentations from artist Nuala Clarke giving her perspective on reading science and Prof Jim Malone giving a scientist’s perspective on art. Summer School participants will be back in Lismore on the Saturday of the festival. The morning theme is Writing Science for the Public and will include contributions from and debate with Prof Peter J Bowler: Popular Science Writing in the 20th Century and Dr Brian Trench: Mary Mulvihill and the Development of Science Writing in Ireland.
Saturday afternoon’s programme will include debate and discussion on Science in Fiction and an opportunity to engage with Marianne Lee, author of A Quiet Tide and Andrew Hughes, writer of The Coroners Daughter. Eoin Gill, Director of Calmast, STEM Engagement Centre with South East Technological University (SETU) and Summer School curator, will deliver a light-hearted and fascinating session, on Sherlock Holmes as scientist and his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle’s links to Lismore.
The eclectic mix also includes a novel game show where the excitement will reach boiling point. Chaired by Cathal Murray, RTE’s Late Date presenter, it will feature two teams battling it out to tell the difference between Science Fact and Science Faked
The social highlight is an evening at Lismore Castle where delegates get an opportunity to meet with speakers and further discuss and debate topics raised throughout the four day event.
More on https://www.robertboyle.ie/11th-robert-boyle-summer-school-2023/
The Robert Boyle Summer School is organised by Calmast STEM Engagement Centre at South East Technological University and the Lismore Heritage Centre. It was established to commemorate the life and works of Robert Boyle, examine the role of science in our world and assert the place science in our culture. The Robert Boyle Summer School is supported by Science Foundation Ireland and Waterford City & County Council.
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