Discovery astronaut set to launch science festival

THE astronaut watched by a spellbound world earlier this year carrying out a critical panel-beating repair job on the US space shuttle Discovery flies into Limerick this weekend on a less hazardous mission.

US astronaut Dr Stephen Robinson, who did a space walk to remove a loose piece of tile separator in order to enable the craft to return safely to earth, will open the Science Festival at the University of Limerick (UL) on Sunday.

The festival is intended to be a showcase for industry, providing an opportunity to promote science and technology, especially to those deciding on future careers, and to provide an entertaining and educational day out for all.

UL president Professor Roger Downer said: “The University of Limerick is the largest provider of concurrent teacher education degrees for second-level schools and, since 1972, has been the largest single source of science teachers in the country.

“In common with other third-level institutions, we are concerned by the significant decline in numbers of second-level students electing to study science and the long-term consequences this will have in meeting the national capacity to satisfy demand for skilled workers for the economy.”

Prof Downer said a primary objective for Science Week is to convey to the general public the importance of science in so many aspects of everyday life.

He said: “We are particularly delighted to have Dr Robinson, who is our guest of honour, return to us again this year to the Science Festival.”

During his space mission earlier this year he had to complete a number of space walks, one of which was to carry out critical repair work on the Discovery.

Dr Robinson will fly in for a one-day visit especially for the Science Festival and will give two keynote lectures along with making the formal presentation of prizes for the Science in our Life school poster competitions, a major highlight of the fair.

A large Science and Technology Industrial Exhibition will also take place with companies displaying their latest technologies and innovations.

Stryker Howmedica Osteonics will be showing off their latest orthopaedic implant technology, Intel Shannon will display its latest advanced microprocessor technology and Analog Devices will be displaying the latest developments in integrated circuit technology.