SCIENCE WEEK IRELAND:FAMILIES who attended an interactive science exhibition at Cork City Hall yesterday took part in a live satellite link to transition-year students currently on a research trip in the Antarctic as well as the launching of a high-tech illustrated "journey to the stars".
Discovery 2008 also gave youngsters the opportunity to play hands-free basketball in addition to experimenting with slime and creating electronic circuits.
Transition-year students from Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Kerry and Cavan travelled to Antarctica with explorer Pat Falvey to research global warming, climate change and wildlife. The event was organised as part of Science Week and the group, who are on board the Ushuaia, have been following in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean.
The students have access to the latest wireless and satellite communications technology on board the ship and they are creating daily reports, including podcasts and blogs, of their experiences.
Participants from the Terence MacSwiney Community College in Knocknaheeny, Cork, took part in the live link-up with Cork City Hall.
Last February, shortly after he returned from the South Pole, explorer Pat Falvey founded the Beyond Endurance Adventure-Based Learning Experience (Be Able) programme, which seeks to use "adventure learning" to create awareness of global issues and to encourage active citizenship in young people.
Be Able will take selected students on scientific expeditions to far-flung locations such as Antarctica, the Himalayas, Tanzania, eastern Russia, Patagonia and the Arctic Circle while communicating and working with students throughout the State, who will learn from their peers.
Representatives from Cork's Blackrock Castle Observatory were also at City Hall to launch StarDome, in association with Armagh Planetarium.
The StarDome will bring the night sky to schools and communities both in Cork and around the State.
Using Celestia and Stellarium software, the planetarium offers the chance to step outside the Milky Way and roam the universe. The stars and planets appear life-like and to those watching it feels as if one is actually flying through space.
Astronomers from Blackrock Castle Observatory can customise the show to suit any group.
Earth's Wild Ride and Nasa's Ring World are just two of the planetarium shows which are on offer.