Summer of marine science & technology
Lisa Fitzpatrick, Marine Institute
All eyes will be on Irish marine science this summer during two prominent events. The first will be held in Galway at the Ocean Wealth Showcase in the Volvo Ocean Race Global Village, June 30-July 8. The second takes place the following week at the European Science Open Forum (ESOF) 2012, Convention Centre Dublin from July 11-15.
Dr Peter Heffernan; David Fahy, ESOF; Minister Simon Coveney; Ciara Backwell, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Jim Fennell, and Lydie Dieval
The Ocean Wealth Showcase opens with fun activities for the family scheduled for the weekend. The focus then shifts to marine information and communications technology (ICT) and how we can get the most from our marine resource through marine technology.
There will also be an emphasis on maritime career opportunities with new job opportunities and a careers clinic. Talks on the marine environment will centre on climate change impacts and Ireland’s deep water corals.
Marine innovation at the Volvo Global Village
The SmartOcean Cluster together with the Marine Institute will host the 3rd Annual SmartOcean Workshop and Innovation Exchange on July 2-3 under the theme of ‘Getting more from our Marine Resources through Technology’.
Already established as a key annual event for companies and research centres engaged in the marine ICT sector, it is a forum for critical debate on the key development challenges that face marine-related sectors.
As a new sector, Marine/ICT offers new solutions to sector specific challenges and through this workshop will broaden the understanding of those challenges while giving valuable input to the policies necessary to support this growing sector.
The workshop provides an opportunity to hear international perspectives from leaders across the marine and ICT sector, State agencies and research institutes. It is designed to stimulate discussion on the challenges, and lead opportunities for translation of innovative technologies into solutions for the global marine sector. Discussions will focus on specific opportunities relating to aquaculture, security and logistics and offshore energy.
The workshop opens July 2nd at the Marine Institute Headquarters in Oranmore, Co Galway and will move to the Ocean Wealth Showcase on Tuesday afternoon for a public showing of the SmartOcean Innovation Exchange.
Sponsored by SmartBay Ireland, the Innovation Exchange will profile a selection of leading SMEs actively engaged in the development and translation of technology- enabled products and services into marine related sectors.
For more information on the SmartOcean Conference/Innovation Exchange visit www.smartocean.org
For a full programme of events at the Ocean Wealth Showcase, visit http://www.volvooceanracegalway.ie/globalvillage/marinepillar.aspx
European City of Science… and the sea
The European Science Open Forum is the largest convergence of the sciences, humanities and culture in Europe 2012 and will be hosted by Dublin, Europe’s City of Science 2012.
ESOF 2012 takes place at the Convention Centre Dublin and the programme includes sessions of interest to the marine science community, including ESOF Symposium, The Atlantic – A Shared Resource, at 4pm on July 12.
In this session Professor John Delaney, University of Washington will take a look at what once divided and now unites the USA and Europe by highlighting historical, cultural and scientific links between the two continents and the challenges/ opportunities that require a united approach.
Robert-Jan Smits, Director General, research and Innovation, European Commission will talk about exploring the opportunities and benefits of cooperation across the Atlantic in the areas of science, technology and innovation.
Keynote addresses will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute.
Other sessions of interest include a presentation on communicating marine science entitled: Atlantic Ocean Literacy: A Grand Challenge at 1.30pm on July 12 This will look at ocean literacy efforts in the USA and Europe, and will work to define concepts and issues that are important for everyone connected to the Atlantic Ocean to know and understand.
The event will also provide an opportunity to showcase Irish marine science with spectacular deep-sea video footage of a major discovery of a field of hydrothermal vents along the mid-Atlantic ridge filmed onboard the RV Celtic Explorer last August.
The discovery of rust coloured chimney structures bellowing super heated (350˚C) sulphur enriched seawater more than 3000m below sea level was made by team of scientists led by Dr Andy Wheeler, UCC, with the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway; Geological Survey of Ireland and University of Southampton and National Oceanography Centre in the UK. Holland 1 ROV (remotely operated vehicle) was deployed diving to depths of 3000 meters taking video footage and grabbing samples of the strange sea creatures that live on the vents, such as a shrimp that sees in infrared with a third eye.
The footage of the Moytirra Vent field, named after a mythological Irish battlefield (meaning plain of pillars) was filmed by National Geographic and the documentary, Alien Deep, will be premiered at the ESOF event.
Attendance at ESOF 2012 is by registration only. Full programme and registration details at http://esof2012.org/
The Dublin City of Science Festival is a year-long celebration of science with over 160 events that will showcase the best of Irish culture, arts and science.
For info visit http://www.dublinscience2012.ie /
