Cork’s biggest ever fossil event – “The Fossil Expo” is coming to UCC on 14 November during Science Week. The event is free and open to the general public from 4 pm – 7 pm on 14 November.
The Fossil Expo is coordinated by UCC/ERI staff from the Ireland’s Fossil Heritage project, funded by Science Foundation Ireland, and is a celebration of our planet’s ancient past. The event will feature interactive fossil-themed activities, including hands-on games, puzzles and lots of real fossils from Ireland and around the world.
The Fossil Expo will be run in tandem with other geo-themed events around the country to mark the first time that Ireland has been chosen to host European Geoscience Day.
As the theme of the day is “Marine Geoscience for All”, the Fossil Expo will feature lots of Ireland’s marine fossils. There will also be displays of fossil plants and animals that lived on dry land!
The event will take place in the Sustainable Futures Lab in the Iris Ashley Cummins Building, UCC. Selected Cork city schools have been invited to a special session from 9 am – 3 pm, and the event opens its doors to the general public from 4 pm – 7 pm.
Dr Jess Franklin, Senior Engagement Officer, Ireland's Fossil Heritage said, “With this event we are celebrating all things palaeontological! You will be able to touch and hold real fossils and get stuck in to lots of hands-on activities, including public favourites such as the Fossil Crime Scene, the Wheel of Misfortune and Walk like a Dinosaur. We will have activities for kids of all ages, and all are welcome.”
Project lead Professor Maria McNamara said, “Fossils tap into our innate fascination with the past and are a really important gateway to science, both for public understanding of science and for young people considering their future career. The Fossil Expo event will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about fossils and geoscience, to get hands-on and to have fun.” She added that the event will also feature information on careers in palaeontology. “Here at UCC our Geoscience degree is the only degree programme in the country that has a dedicated option to focus on palaeontology. Visitors can find out more by speaking to our students and to real palaeontologists!”
The overall lead of the 2024 EGU Geoscience Day event in Ireland is Dr Fergus McAuliffe of the Irish Centre for Research into Applied Geosciences. He commented: “The day aims to raise awareness of the Earth, planetary and space sciences to students, the wider public and national policymakers..”
The event is funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the European Geosciences Union and the European Research Council.
Dr Jess Franklin: jfranklin@ucc.ie, or Prof. Maria McNamara: maria.mcnamara@ucc.ie.