Maynooth University welcomed young scientists to its annual Science Night on Friday, 15 November, opening its doors to hundreds of families from across the region.
The fun evening of free events for children of all ages included robot soccer, chemistry experiments, star gazing and crime scene investigation (CSI). Young visitors also had the opportunity to ask questions of MU scientists, engineers and students about the exhibits and the world of science.
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| Andrew (11) and Rachel (9) Murray from Enfield | Amelia Armstrong (9) from Maynooth |
Science Night was part of national Science Week 2024, an annual celebration of the role of science in our daily lives. This year, it took place from November 10-17 with the theme of Regeneration.
Throughout the week, the Faculty of Science and Engineering hosted a range of events attended by alumni and members of the public including tours of the Science Museum on South Campus and an online astrophysics and cosmology masterclass.
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One of the week’s highlights was an interactive panel discussion -- Ozempic – Unravelling fact from fiction -- with Consultant Endocrinologist and HSE National Clinical Lead for Obesity Prof Donal O’Shea and Dr Andrew Hogan of MU’s Biology Department.
Hosted in The Phoenix building on North Campus and attended by a capacity audience, the panel explored the science behind Ozempic, including how it works and its impact on health. Discussing the latest research, they detailed how these medications have changed the treatment of obesity, and also answered controversial issues such as whether Ozempic causes muscle loss, increases fertility, and whether 'Ozempic face' is real.
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Left above: MU President Professor Eeva Leinonen and Prof Paul Moynagh with staff on Science night
Right above: Prof Paul Moynagh, Prof Eeva Leinonen and Prof Ronan Farrell with Stella Reale (6), Rachel Murray (9) and Andrew Murray (11) from Enfield, Alessandro Reale (7) and Arianna (10) Reale from Celbridge