Six climate research scientists from the ICARUS Climate Research Centre in the Department of Geography at Maynooth University are taking their interactive exhibit to Glastonbury next week.
They are part of the festival’s Science Futures section and will be “performing” from Wednesday to Sunday.
“We’re the only climate exhibit this year so it’s a big gig for us,” said Dr Michelle Curran, who is leading the team.
They work out of a marquee set up like a circus big top in the whites, blues and reds of the climate stripes used to symbolise the warming of the world since 1850.
Inside, they offer games of skill and chance that represent the climate crisis, its causes and effects.
Dr Curran said the idea was to generate a sense of urgency around the issue without lecturing to people.
“People don’t want to be talked at but there really is a lack of urgency to achieve meaningful climate action, so we get people involved through games.
“We have a wall with balls you have to throw through holes of different sizes.
“The balls represent heat, and the holes each represent an atmosphere under different CO2 levels.
More information at Irish ‘circus of horror’ act at Glastonbury will teach audiences about urgency of climate emergency | Irish Independent