Budding engineers to join in ‘week of wonder’

YOUNG people who regularly embarrass their parents by hooking up home theatre systems in minutes, dream about designing cars or imagine travelling into space will be interested in an engineering festival taking place in February.

The “week of wonder” promises a fun-packed programme, offering a variety of interactive events to give the public an opportunity to discover what engineering is all about.

Highlights of the event, which will run nationwide from February 19 to 23, include the Regional Treasure Hunts in Cork, Galway, Athlone and Dublin. The treasure hunts will invite participants on a trail around the major engineering feats in each respective city, while challenging them to solve a host of engineering puzzles as they go.

The winner will be presented with a trip to Disneyland Paris along with the opportunity to meet the “Imagineers”, otherwise known as Disney engineers who make fantasies a reality.

Other activities include robot building and the chance to practice in a flight simulator. In Dublin, families will be able to enjoy a “James Bond tour” of a power plant and in Limerick they can try their hand at a bug-making challenge.

Michelle Banks, of the Week of Wonder team, said: “Engineers in Ireland are involved in pioneering the latest medical devices and designing our transport systems, to combating climate change and expanding the broadband network.”

The Week of Wonder is organised by the Steps to Engineering programme, which is aimed at encouraging young children and teenagers to think about a career in engineering.

The activities on offer are designed for students aged seven to 17 and their families. All activities are free of charge. For full details or to register for a free ticket, visit www.weekofwonder.ie.