Munster STEM Fair this Sunday in Mallow

Don’t Miss the MUNSTER MATHS & SCIENCE FAMILY FAIR at Mallow GAA Complex this SUNDAY - 11.30am to 4.30pm with FREE ADMISSION -

This coming Sunday 13th October sees the one of the largest S.T.E.M. fairs in the country taking place in Mallow the crossroads of Munster. The annual event is now in its ninth year and organisers Mallow Development Partnership are pleased to confirm a record number of sixty exhibitors will participate.

Leaders in industry, research and third level institutes, combined with local North Cork schools, will gather to showcase the fun side to Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths (STEM), with a wide array of engaging and interactive experiments, demonstrations and displays for all ages to enjoy.

Robotics, 3D visuals and simulations, microscopic exploration, gaming platforms, communications technology and research explorations are only some of the many items to entertain visitors, while teams of fun enthusiasts are also on site to take you through messy scientific experiments and interesting physics activities. This year also includes an outdoor schedule every 30 minutes which sees drone flying displays and bottle rocket demonstrations as well as some emergency service vehicles available to view throughout the afternoon.

Over the past number of years Mallow Development Partnership has been to the fore in promoting STEM in the local schools of the Mallow area. An extension of the Mallow Maths & Science Primary Schools Project, the fair was originally established to showcase the schools projects, however it has now exceeded all expectations by hosting key exhibitors from across all areas of STEM while attracting a significant and growing attendance. The participating schools in the local area continue to form a key component of the event and this year sees primary and secondary schools numbers increased to sixteen North Cork schools exhibiting.

The aim of the Maths and Science Fair is to showcase the ‘fun side’ of maths and science by showcasing wonderful everyday examples of how Maths and Science impacts on our everyday lives. The event also provides students with the opportunity to meet with professionals who can offer career advice.

Year on year the fair attracts a broad range of industry, research and third level institutes joining local flagship companies such as Kostal, Dairygold, EPS (Electric Pump Services), Blackwater Engineering and Grasstec Group. Amongst the returning past favourites this year are the Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork Institute of Technology Sports Department, Institute of Physics (Physics Busking), Maths Week (Waterford Institute of Technology), Blizzard Entertainment, Irish Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána.

Other well-known companies and organisations showcasing their linkages with STEM include Eli Lily, CEIA & Honer APG Europe, Irish Water, Johnson & Johnson, along with research institutes such as Teagasc Research Centre, LERO (Irish Software Engineering Research Centre), Inland Fisheries Ireland, and also the wonderful School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences from U.C.C.

Exciting new additions this year include the Nutty Scientists, Confirm – Smart Manufacturing, Lismore Science Centre, Maritime College of Ireland, Trackman Golf Analysis, Abbott Ireland, Ashgrove Renewables, Junior Achievement Ireland and Next Gen Power, with all showcasing their latest STEM innovations and technology.

For many of those who end up pursuing a career in maths and science it all starts with participating in junior STEM clubs such as Mallow CoderDojo who will once again attend to show how simple coding can be, while gaming wizards Blizzard Entertainment will entertain and demonstrate what goes on behind the scenes before we get to enjoy the games on our screens. Blizzard will also be promoting opportunities for transition year students to do exciting work experience projects with application forms available at their exhibit.

One of the most popular exhibits each year is the Blackrock Castle Observatory portable planetarium. The StarDome inflates in an indoor space, 6m by 6m with a 3.5m height ceiling and capacity of 30-35 people. A 20 minute show will have you surrounded by the wonders of the night sky, exploring space travel and marvelling at planet views as never seen before. Also hugely popular are the team from the Irish Defence Forces who will be on hand to display how they use maths & science in their everyday work from bomb disposal, communications, ordnance survey and many other areas in which they employ innovative methods.

All exhibitors showcase a different feature of Maths & Science and in doing so widen our horizons as to the many career options available in a world where the future is now driven by STEM.

The Munster Maths and Science Family Fair is now well established as a major science event and attracts circa 5,000 attendees each year. It is held at the superb Mallow GAA Complex which comfortably provides both the indoor and outdoor space required for such a large event.

You won’t want to miss this great family day out which will take place this coming Sunday October 13th from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

Admission is free to all exhibits and Mallow Development Partnership wish to acknowledge this is due to the ongoing sponsorship received from Cork County Council’s Economic Development Fund and the financial support of the Irish American Partnership. Other generous supporters include Mallow Credit Union and WindSource Ltd.

Please check out the Munster Maths and Science Family Fair Facebook page for more information and latest updates.