Posts tagged science
Scibernia podcast episode 20: Science Week, parapsychology and sat-navs
Nov 9th
The latest edition of our science podcast previews the week-long celebration of science that is Science Week. We also explore the reasons why some people believe in paranormal activity. And we hear why Europe is finally developing its own satellite navigation system.
To listen, Press the ‘Play’ or ‘Download’ button below now, or subscribe via iTunes.
In this episode:
- TV ‘psychic’ Sally Morgan was recently challenged to prove her supernatural abilities by UK psychologist Chris French. He tells Marie Boran about the psychology of alien abductions, haunted houses and telepathy.
- After years of using America’s GPS sat-nav system in our cars and phones, Europe is now developing its own satellite navigation system: Galileo. Conor Farrell from Astronomy Ireland is in studio to tell us why, and to explain how Irish children can get involved in a competition to name one of the satellites.
- It’s probably the biggest event in the science calendar, and this year Science Week promises to be brighter and shinier than ever. Donna McCabe from Discover Science and Engineering tells Sylvia Leatham about some of the hundreds of events taking place around the country from the 13th to 20th November.
Get in touch with us at podcast@scibernia.ie, follow us on Twitter on @Scibernia, or check us out on Facebook. And if you’ve got a science-y question that’s bugging you, email us and we’ll get a scientist to answer it!
Scibernia podcast episode 20: Science Week, parapsychology and sat-navs [ 29:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadScibernia podcast episode 17: Mathemagicians, iPod chemistry and Vinny the sunfish
Oct 11th
In this episode, we preview the best events of the upcoming Maths Week, discuss the chemistry that makes gadgets work, and meet some big fish on a tour of the National Aquarium in Galway. Hit the ‘Play’ or ‘Download’ button below now, or subscribe via iTunes.
In this episode:
- We look ahead to some of the fun events taking place around the country during Maths Week, including circus tricks, maths at the zoo, magic and street events.
- In our ‘elevator scientist’ slot, Lenny asks Andy Shearer of the Centre for Astronomy at NUI Galway to describe his career in a nutshell.
- Simon Elliott from the Tyndall Institute in Cork tells us about the chemistry behind the electronic gadgets we use and what lies ahead for the chip industry.
- Where can you find people doing fish impressions on the radio? Right here in our Culture Corner! Triona gets her feet wet at the National Aquarium in Salthill, Galway.
Get in touch with us at podcast@scibernia.ie, follow us on Twitter on @Scibernia, or check us out on Facebook. And if you’ve got a science-y question that’s bugging you, email us and we’ll get a scientist to answer it!
Scibernia podcast episode 17: Mathemagicians, iPod chemistry and Vinny the sunfish [ 29:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadCheck out the latest science events!
Sep 19th
Here’s the scoop on science-y events happening in your area over the next few weeks:
Culture Night is Friday, the 23rd of September, when many museums, galleries and cultural centres stay open late to the public. One of these will be the Natural History Museum in Dublin, which will be running kids’ workshops from 4pm, and will remain open till 9pm, with rarely seen objects on display. Check out Museum.ie for more info.
European Researchers Night takes place on Friday, the 23rd of September, and to celebrate, NUI Galway is hosting a ‘Sea2Sky’ event in Salthill. This is a fun, free, family event, filled with experiments, quizzes and competitions. Visit sea2sky.ie for more details.
On Saturday the 24th of September, Niamh Donohoe will lead a walk of Dublin’s Botanic Gardens about medicinal plants, their history and their role in modern medicine. The walk starts at 2.30pm. Visit botanicgardens.ie for more info.
The Alchemist Café will host a talk by Vanessa Hyde about the monitoring of drug safety in Europe on the 24th of September, at 7.30pm sharp in the Mercantile in Dublin. Vanessa is a Medical Information and Regulatory Affairs Associate with 16 years in Quality Assurance in Clinical Research in Ireland. (You can check out their mailing list here).
First Fridays are back at Blackrock Castle Observatory. Kicking off at 6pm on October 7th with family workshops, followed by the Cork Science Café at 7pm, the evening is filled with lectures, star parties and fascinating science! Visit bco.ie for more details.
If you have an event you’d like us tell us about, email podcast@scibernia.ie, or post the details into a comment below.
Scibernia podcast episode 14: Deadly moons, star discoveries and ‘cutting edge’ technology
Sep 16th
In our latest episode, we get a bit space-y: an artist tells us why she encourages kids to draw the night sky, and we hear about the latest discoveries among pulsating stars (pulsars). We also explore some (literal) cutting-edge technology that could one day make animal dissection in the classroom obsolete. Hit the ‘Play’ or ‘Download’ button below now, or catch us on iTunes.
In this episode:
- Artist and amateur astronomer Deirdre Kelleghan tells us about her award-winning ’Deadly Moons‘ project, an educational drawing workshop for kids.
- Lenny went to Galway to talk to Andy Shearer of NUI Galway’s Centre for Astronomy about an unexpected discovery in pulsar research.
- Trinity College immunology student Craig O’Hare brings us up to speed on the technologies that could one day overtake the dissectionof animals in the classroom.
- And we have a guide to the latest science-related events in your area. (Thanks to Triona for compiling listings.)
Get in touch with us at podcast@scibernia.ie, follow us on Twitter on @Scibernia, or check us out on Facebook. And if you’ve got a science-y question that’s bugging you, email us and we’ll get a scientist to answer it!
Scibernia podcast episode 14: Deadly moons, star discoveries and 'cutting edge' technology [ 30:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Scibernia podcast episode 13: spuds, elements and psychopaths!
Aug 24th
In the latest episode of Scibernia we find out about the genetics of potatoes, get up close and personal with the Periodic Table of Elements and ask the question: what exactly is a psychopath? To listen just click ‘Play’ or ‘Download’ below, or catch us on iTunes.
In this episode:
- Gerard Cunningham talks to geneticist Dan Milbourne of Teagasc, head of an Irish team that played a key role in mapping the potato genome.
- We take a tour of the Periodic Table at Dublin’s Science Gallery, where the latest exhibition is titled Elements: The Beauty of Chemistry.
- And in our Culture Corner we review Jon Ronson’s new book The Psychopath Test, which takes a fascinating look at how psychopathy — and hundreds of other psychiatric disorders — are diagnosed today.
Get in touch with us at podcast@scibernia.ie, follow us on Twitter on @Scibernia, or check us out on Facebook. And if you’ve got a science-y question that’s bugging you, email us and we’ll get a scientist to answer it!
Scibernia podcast episode 13: spuds, elements and psychopaths! [ 27:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
