Ireland’s space expert brings ‘The Shape of Water’ to Louth Science Festival 2026
The one-person performance will take place in Louth Library on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November
How much water does it take to survive on Mars? Less than one elephant drinks in four days! That's the kind of question that Earth and Space explorer (and Dundalk native!) Dr Niamh Shaw will answer during Louth Science Festival (7-21 November) as she performs her brand-new show, The Shape of Water.
The one-person performance will take place in Louth Library on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November, as part of Science Week 2026, where Niamh will share her experiences of living on rationed water in a Mars simulator, tracking penguins across the Antarctic, and being swum at by a hungry polar bear in the Arctic. The Shape of Water will also feature in the Dublin and Midlands Science Festivals and at Dublin Zoo.
Dr Shaw, who was one of only two women awarded a ‘Fellow by Presidential Invitation’ from Engineers Ireland in April and recently won the Network Ireland National Businesswoman of the Year STEM professional accolade, said:
“The Shape of Water brings together two of my great passions-science and communication- and throughout November I’ll get to share some of the real-life adventures I’ve had in extreme climates. Families will find out who copes better with the cold — humans or penguins, try the ‘blubber glove’ challenge and meet the animals who've cracked survival tricks humans haven't.
“As the broad theme of Science Week 2026, without water, we simply can’t survive and the impact that climate change is having on our global water supply, can already be seen in the plants, animals and humans we share our planet with. The Shape of Water is a fun, interactive performance that aims to answer some of the big questions facing all of us, in ways that make sense for everyday life.”
Dr Shaw will also feature alongside other STEAM professionals at the festival’s careers evenings for families; ‘The H2O Heroes Science Fair’ in Dundalk on Wednesday 11 November and ‘Careers in STEM’ with Engineers Ireland on Tuesday 17 Nov, also in Dundalk.
Speaking at the launch, Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said: “Louth Science Festival continues to inspire curiosity and learning across our county. This year's theme highlights the importance of water to our communities, our environment and our future. I encourage people of all ages to take part in the fantastic range of free events on offer and to enjoy the opportunities the festival provides to explore science."
Science Week 2026, delivered by Research Ireland, is celebrating its 31st anniversary. The week will explore water as an essential building block of life on Earth and a powerful force that has shaped the planet, people’s lives and their future. The events, performances and activities across Ireland during Science Week 2026, will celebrate curiosity, collaboration and discovery, and consider how science can help people care for water today, for the communities, ecosystems and generations of tomorrow.
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland said: “Each year, the inspiring events put on across the country bring science to the public in a way that relates to their lives. This year’s theme, ‘Water – From Molecule to Ocean’, is one everyone can relate to. It encourages us to take a closer look at how water has shaped our planet and our lives, and at our relationship with this vital resource. Science Week wouldn’t be possible without the incredible local organisers and volunteers that give their time each year to share their passion for science and make it accessible to everyone, so I want to share my sincere gratitude for their efforts.”