Hydrogen rockets, a crazy crane, bubbles and balloons all form part of a science exhibition attracting thousands of children to Carlow this month.
It is hoped the event, "The Magic of Science", will be the forerunner to the establishment of a major science discovery centre in the town. A site for the project has been provided by the Carlow local authorities and funding has been sought from the Government.
This is the second year of the exhibition at Carlow Institute of Technology, which is designed to stimulate an interest in science among primary school children.
Exhibits such as the "bubbles and balloons show" enable children to explore science in a practical and fun way, by uncovering the properties of bubbles with demonstrations and experiments.
Children attending the event are encouraged to get involved in activities such as launching rockets or predicting what happens when air bubbles travel upwards through clear oil. The exhibits are provided by Techniquest, a Cardiff-based educational company which runs one of the world's leading science discovery centres.
A feasibility study, commissioned by Carlow Institute of Technology (CIT), the Carlow local authorities and the campus innovation centre at CIT suggests a similar centre in the town could attract 120,000 visitors a year.
Discussions have been held with the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, about the prospect of the Government providing the €12 million in capital costs required for the development, said Mr Jim McEntee, the head of external services at CIT.
The facility could also be used as a training centre for primary teachers, for whom science is being introduced to the school curriculum.
The level of interest in the Magic of Science exhibition, which is attracting children from Dublin and Cork as well as Carlow and surrounding counties, backed up the feasibility study's findings, Mr McEntee said. The study was carried out by consultants Farrell Grant Sparks.
About 3,000 school children are expected to have attended the exhibition by the time it closes on June 26th. It is open to school tours on weekdays and the general public at weekends, and has a general admission price of €5.
