DOES the very mention of science leave you cold? Is technology a turn off? Well, all that could be about to change as a new campaign gets under way this month aimed at convincing you that science is a good thing.
There will be science on Den TV, a touring road show taking scientific shows to schools, a £20,000 award for innovation in industry, an Internet day and a nationwide week of events focusing on science and information technology.
The new campaign, "Our Future Starts Here", aims to integrate science more into Irish culture, according to a spokesman for Forfas.
The State science policy agency, which devised the programme, announced details of it yesterday at a briefing in Dublin.
Earlier this year a survey by Forfas found that Irish people in general have a positive attitude to science and technology, although they are also worried that science damages the environment, does away with more jobs than it creates and is developing too fast.
According to Forfas, the campaign should address these concerns. The wide programme of events is targeting everyone, from young children to business people and politicians, with a variety of initiatives which also includes a careers CD for schools.
Events start later this month with the introduction of a new award for innovation in industry which is jointly sponsored by The Irish Times and Price Waterhouse.
The public awareness programme was one of the recommendations made last year by an independent science policy review group. Earlier this year the Minister for Commerce, Science and Technology, Mr Pat Rabbitte, allocated £250,000 to it.
Meanwhile, the publication of the Government's long promised science and innovation policy is now expected later this month.