Spraoi agus Spórt announces Inishowen science week festival

The Digital Creative Lab announced a week of events looking at how science and technology can help traditional sectors, like farming, fishing, textiles, and sports, grow and thrive.

Spraoi agus Spórt, in partnership with Research Ireland, is excited to announce the first-ever Inishowen Rural Science Festival – Bridging Tradition and Innovation. As part of Science Week 2024, the festival will explore the theme of regeneration and take place from November 10 – 17, offering a variety of talks, events, and workshops in different locations across the Inishowen Peninsula.

This festival is for people of all ages who are curious about the world around them. Inspired by Carl Sagan’s words, "Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge," the festival will explore how science can help us tackle important issues facing rural communities. How science and technology can work alongside traditional areas like farming, fishing, textiles, landscapes, and sports. Looking at how innovation can help these sectors grow and thrive while keeping them sustainable.

Spraoi agus Spórt has been promoting science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) in Inishowen since 2019. Starting as a digital fabrication FabLab, the digital creative lab has grown into a hub for innovation and creativity. Using technology, skills, and imagination, the team in the digital creative lab have introduced a scientific state of mind to schools, after-school programmes, and community events. Gareth Whitmore, General Manager of the Inishowen Co-operative, a key funder of digital creative lab said “Innovation and creative thinking will be needed for rural communities to tackle issues that they face, we are proud to support the work of Spraoi agus Spórt in bringing this mindset to young people and the wider community through the digital creative lab.”

This summer, Spraoi agus Spórt’s digital creative lab hosted summer camps where children and young people learned about filmmaking, digital fabrication, animation, and game creation. They brought technology and digital creativity into the community at the Carndonagh Agricultural Show, Clonmany Agricultural Show, and Greencastle Regatta. These activities are part of an ongoing effort to bring new ideas and technologies to the community of which the first Inishowen Science Week Festival will be the showcase.

The festival’s programme has been created with input from local groups and individuals, including engineers, horticulturists, textile makers, sports clubs, and environmental organisations. It will feature a wide range of activities, including hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, guided tours, and experiments—all focused on the theme of regeneration.