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Science Week Events 2026 – Celebrating Space
There are hundreds of events taking place as part of Science Week 2026 all over Ireland.
Here are some space related events suitable for second level students which we think you may find interesting!
Check out the Science Week website for more events and to find something interesting happening near you.
Saunas, Stargazing, and Alpacas @ Bridgefield, Castlemartyr, Co.Cork
Venture out to Bridgefield Farm near Castlemartyre in East Cork for a special evening of steam, stars and a little cosmic exploration. Enjoy a tranquil Finnish-style sauna experience nestled on a working farm, where the sounds of the flowing river are accompanied by farm animals graze peacefully nearby — including alpacas Amy Winehouse and Reenie.
After an hour getting suitably toasty, guests can bundle up and head outside to see what’s happening in the night sky above with astronomer and astrophysicist Dr Mark Kennedy. Using the free Stellarium app, Mark will show us how to find and identify some of the constellations visible above the farm, as well as some of the planets, stars and other objects that make up our night sky.
Date: Friday 13th November
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Cost: €20
The Ugly Animal Roadshow- Weird Life Underwater @ Mucklagh, Tullamore
Join scientist Simon Watt for a hilarious tour of the weird, wonderful and ugly creatures lurking in our seas—and why they need protecting.
The Ugly Animal Preservation Society is dedicated to raising the profile of mother natures more aesthetically challenged children. We can’t all be pandas!
From hagfish that see off predators using sickening slime to sea cucumbers that fight with their bum, our seas are full of some of the strangest animals in the world. But this environment is one that needs a good clean up if these creatures, are to survive. Join biologist and presenter Simon Watt for a tour of the tremendous wildlife we can find on the shore and in the depths.
Date: Thursday 12th November
Time: 12:00 pm – 01:00 pm
Cost: Free
The Shape of Water with Dr Niamh Shaw @ Dundalk Library, Louth
How much water does it take to survive on Mars? Less than one elephant drinks in four days. That’s the kind of question Earth & space explorer Niamh Shaw has had to answer in real life! The Shape of Water is a wild, funny, hands-on adventure for families. Watch ice melt in real time. Find out who copes better with the cold- you or a penguin. Try the blubber glove challenge. Meet the animals who’ve cracked survival tricks humans haven’t. And hear real stories from the ice, the desert, and a simulated Mars mission, told by someone who’s actually been there. Big questions, brilliant facts, real adventure. Bring the kids- and your sense of wonder.
Niamh has lived on rationed water in a Mars simulation, tracked penguins across the Antarctic, and been sniffed out by a hungry polar bear in the Arctic. Now she’s bringing it all to Science Week and Louth Science Festival.
Date: Wednesday 18th November
Time: 3:30 pm
Cost: Free
Water in Motion- From Orbit to Air @ Blackrock Castle Observatory Co. Cork
Join us at Blackrock Castle Observatory for an interactive Science Week experience exploring water in motion – from space and Earth to the tiny droplets in the air we breathe. Discover how water behaves in different environments through hands-on demonstrations, activities and visual experiments. See how aerosol droplets move through the air and explore how masks can change their spread. There will be something to discover for all ages, with opportunities to ask questions, explore and get involved. No special equipment or clothing is required.
Time: 10:00 am – 04:00 pm
Dates: Monday 9th – Friday 13th November
Cost: Free
Raw Earth @ Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Dublin
Presented at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Raw Earth invites you to creatively explore the materials and natural resources that underpin society.
The evening showcases outcomes from the iCRAG Raw Materials Residency 2026, a collaboration between artists Kathryn Maguire and Elaine Harrington and researchers at iCRAG, the Research Ireland Centre for Applied Geosciences. Where art and science converge, the “stories” of raw materials unfold, from geological formation to extraction, use and reuse. Water is central to these stories, and in line with the Science Week 2026 theme, Raw Earth reminds us that Earth is a system in which water and rock are inseparable from the things we use every day.
Audiences can expect new artworks, immersive artist and scientist talks, and a lively panel discussion hosted by acclaimed multi-disciplinary artist and researcher of critical minerals in digital culture, Prof. Teresa Dillion.
Date: Sunday 15th November
Time: 4:30 pm – 07:30 pm
Cost: Free
Check out many more Science Week Events!
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