Science Week Ireland takes place later this month with lectures, exhibitions and a free computer game, writes Dick Ahlstrom
Teaching the concepts behind nanotechnology will never be the same again. The Government's science promotion and education body is set to launch a free interactive computer game as part of Science Week Ireland that explains nanotechnology while you have fun.
Nanoquest is set for launch on Wednesday November 8th, with free copies being sent to all schools and copies also available without charge either from www.nanoquest.ie or from GameStop.
Aimed at transition year students in particular but of interest to gamers of any age, Nanoquest shrinks players down to the size of atoms, explains Michael John Gorman, senior manager of the young people's programme of promotional body, Discover Science and Engineering (DSE).
"They have to escape from the nanoworld by finding parts and building a vehicle," he explains. "The key feature of Nanoquest is it introduces young people to the science behind nanotechnology."
A great deal of work went into the development of Nanoquest. DSE linked up with Trinity College Dublin's Crann nanotechnology research centre to develop the concept and the ideas to be explained within nanotechnology and then went to established game development companies to bring the ideas to life.
They went to Irish company Havok for a software package used in the Matrix and Tomb Raider, says Gorman. "Havok simulates Newtonian physics in a game. If you hit a wall with a brick the wall and brick obey the laws of physics." Two Belfast companies then constructed the game itself, Cando Interactive and Fable Multimedia.
Gorman expressed confidence that Nanoquest would engage young gamers, but to add spice to the mix, DSE has also organised a competition. It will give away an iPod Nano every week for 20 weeks to the holder of the highest Nanoquest score registered on the Nanoquest web site.
The site and copies of the free game become available on November 8th, the day when DSE launches its package of events for Science Week Ireland 2006.
It includes hundreds of talks, walks, science demonstrations and displays designed to help people of all ages understand the ideas behind science and engineering.
Science in Our Future is the theme chosen for Science Week Ireland 2006. It will examine emerging technologies and the latest discoveries in science and engineering and predict how science might influence the way we travel, entertain ourselves and even affect the foods we eat, say DSE organisers. To emphasise this theme DSE has organised an exhibition entitled Predictions on the Green.
This opens up the possibility for students and adults to make predictions about the future. Celebrities will also be asked to contribute their views and all will be showcased in St Stephen's Green during Science Week, which runs from November 12th to 19th.
There will be Science Week events right across the country at schools, institutes of technology, universities and libraries. A full listing of what is available in your own area is available at www.scienceweek.ie and more information about what DSE does and how you can learn more about careers in the sciences is available at www.science.ie.
Copies of Nanoquest either over the web (at www.nanoquest.ie) or in GameStop become available from November 8th.