The Ryan Institute strongly promotes involvement of its staff and researchers in community engagement events. Over the last several years, alongside researchers from various centres and projects, we have developed standalone displays on a number of topics, including:
- Atmosphere and Air Quality (Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies);
- Energy (Energy Research Centre);
- Galway Coastal and Groundwater Resources (Griffith Project);
- Deep Water Coral Ecosystems (CoralFISH project);
- Irish Insect Biodiversity (Digital Hedge School Project).
Atmosphere and Air Quality
Together with researchers from the Ryan Institute’s Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies (C-CAPS), this interactive display informs on several aspects of the atmosphere and air quality including: cloud formation; particulate aerosols; light absorbance and reflection (aka why is the sky blue); and air quality and human health.
Pictured on right is Ciaran Monaghan, C-CAPS researcher, at the Galway Science and Technology Festival in 2008, explaining to some young scientists why the sky turns from blue to orange when the sun sets.
Energy
The Energy Research Centre (ERC) has been engaged in outreach since it’s inception in 2008. A variety of activities have been developed, and display devices used, on the subject of energy. These can be used either on their own, or together as one large display. These include: renewable energy demonstration devices such as a solar-powered windmill and miniature fuel cell car; computer games (supplied by Sustainable Energy Ireland); and a K-NEX challenge build-your-own wind turbine workshop (K-NEX supplied by Galway Education Centre).
 Visitors to the Energy display at 2007's Galway Science and Technology Festival Exhibition. |
 Mr. Cian Flaherty explains the basics of anaerobic digestion at the Galway Science and Technology Festival Exhibition, 2009. |
 Renewable energy display devices at the ERC launch in 2008. |
Galway Coastal and Groundwater Resources (Griffith Project)
For the Griffith GeoScience Project, outreach is a priority. As such, a substantial amount of effort has been put into developing very effective teaching and engagement materials, specifically for the purpose of Science Fairs and Events. In addition, the researchers involved in the Griffith Project are all exceptional communicators, and have worked closely with the Ryan Institute’s Outreach Officer to ensure that this project, and the science and engineering behind it, is shared with the community for whom the research will benefit. Below are details of some of the display materials developed for Griffith Project outreach:
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Pictured on left is a model that demonstrates groundwater transport in karst landscapes, most recently used at Galway Atlantaquaria during a National Science Week event. The model is a hands-on demonstration for school-aged children. It is used to explain the intricate groundwater flow patterns that exist in karst environments such as the Burren in Co. Clare, and to demonstrate the impacts of point-source pollution in such environments. |
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Pictured here is a three-dimensional model of Galway Bay and coastline, constructed by Peak Modelmakers, on display at the Volvo Ocean Race in June 2009. The purpose of the model is to demonstrate the interaction between the groundwater and seawater along the coastal zones of Galway Bay. The following are some of the features of the model:
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Deep Water Coral Ecosystems (CoralFISH project)
In the spring of 2009, the FP7 CoralFISH project made national news as researchers returned from a cruise with ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) video footage of cold, deep-water coraline habitats, located in the deep waters off the west coast of Ireland. The footage captured the imaginations of the country as people viewed an ecosystem that they would have never imagined could exist in such deep, cold, Irish waters. The researchers involved in this project put together an edited video and actual samples of real deep-water corals retrieved from this area (pictured on right), to display at Science Events around the country. Together with the scientists who are actually out on these ships doing the work, this display is extremely popular with kids and grown-ups of all ages.
Irish Insect Biodiversity (Digital Hedge School Project)
The Digital Hedge School (DHS) Project is a multi-generational environmental education project established in 2006. Working with the non-profit educational project Brigit’s Garden, one aspect of the project is to get the children involved to display their knowledge and achievements in relation to insect biodiversity and Irish ecology. This is done using a display of live terrestrial and pond insects, photographs, video, and supporting teaching tools such as “bug glasses”. Pictured on left at the 2009 Galway Science and Technology Festival, are Dr. Oonagh Dwane of the Ryan Institute, and pupils from Tirellan Heights N.S. in Galway, who participated in the 2008-2009 DHS Project.
