NI Science Festival kicks off with exciting events in County Derry

From February 15 to February 25, NI Science Festival will launch its tenth edition with multiple events taking place in County Derry.
People will have access to a large series of scientific workshops, talks and family activities throughout the country.
Over ten days, the NI Science Festival will welcome archaeologists, environmentalists, psychologists, neuroscientists and much more to ignite scientific curiosity and explore the world.
“We are very excited to be celebrating our tenth anniversary with a fantastic programme of events for young and old, that not only showcases the marvels of science but also explores its connections with arts and culture and beyond,” said Sarah Jones, director of this year’s festival.
“Our tenth anniversary is as much about ensuring our legacy for years to come, as it is about celebrating our legacy thus far. That’s why we were so pleased to mark our launch with some tree planting with the Woodland Trust in the Faughan Valley, ahead of the Family Tree Planting Day they will host during our festival.”
Over 300 events will take place in Northern Ireland and across the border with a few in County Derry.
On February 17, families have the opportunity to go plant native trees in the Faughan Valley Woodlands, on the outskirts of Claudy. It is an opportunity to create new and expand existing woodlands and learn about the different native tree species in the Faughan Valley and how you can help conserve woodlands.
Sponsored by Translink, it will provide bus transport to go to the event in an eco-friendly way.
A few events will take place at Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, including talks with experts.
On February 22 one of the topics will be about the famous Lough Neagh and the infamous Green-Blue Algae that has been developing in the Lough over the last year. The event called ‘What’s the blooming problem with Lough Neagh?’ will bring together scientists and local professionals to share their knowledge, research findings, and potential solutions. They will delve into the intricate science behind the alarming proliferation of blue-green algae in the biggest lough of Northern Ireland.
Another event in Magherafelt, called ‘The Anatomy of AI: An Opportunity or Threat to the Artistic Process’, will take place on February 17. The talk will be about the problem of AI against art and debate the role of AI in art and the consequences of such a practice. It is becoming difficult to tell if one piece of art was made by AI.
The panel, chaired by arts writer, journalist, theatre reviewer and former BBC Radio Drama producer, Michael Quinn, will feature visual artist Gary Shaw, musician, songwriter, composer and sound designer Katie Richardson, writer Wendy Erskine and Michaela Black, Professor of AI at University of Ulster.
In Coleraine on February 22, Professor Richard Wiseman, psychologist and best-selling author, will host a talk to explore the limits of the human mind and try to investigate the impossible. How do magicians produce objects from thin air and defy gravity? Do ghosts exist and can psychics really predict the future? Can you achieve the impossible?
NI Science Festival is supported by the Department for the Economy, Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, British Council Northern Ireland, MCS Group, The Open University NI, Arts & Business NI, Matrix NI, Film Hub NI, Institute of Physics, OCN NI and Belfast Harbour.
A full list of events and tickets are available via nisciencefestival.com/events