Cork science fair teaches future generations about climate change
November 12th, 2018
A science fair introduced the notion of climate change and sustainable energy to youngsters in Cork yesterday.
The festival, hosted by Science Foundation Ireland, had various educational stalls to show the impact of climate change to children through fun, scientific experimentation.
Dr Paul Bolger, UCC’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI) general manager, told The Green News that the event is important as climate change will have a critical impact on future generations.
“A lot of children don’t know a lot about climate change,” he said. “The idea is to make them familiar with the fact that climate change is happening, and [that] we need to do something about it.
“Children would be the most affected group by climate change because its major impacts are going to be revealed in 20 to 40 years,” he continued.
Cormac O’Callaghan from the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) demonstrated the power of renewable energy by producing energy using the acidity of lemons.
Dr Paul Bolger and his son at ERI Children Science Fair Photo Shamim Malekmian
He said that introducing sustainability and its positive influence on climate change needs to be a priority in schools.
“Why we go to schools and are teaching it here today has got to do with climate change, teaching children about saving energy and the impacts of fossil fuels gets the conversation started,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
“Teaching children what they can do to help with climate change from an individual level and get the discussion started about what can be done at a national level is our aim.”
Ocean pollution and its detrimental impact on the safety of swimming in Irish waters was highlighted by Ireland’s National Drowning Prevention Campaign (RNLI), warning children about the rubbish that is hidden in our water.
“Broken glass, shopping trolleys and discarded fishing nets, all types of rubbish and in a lot of places sewage enters the water, we are raising awareness among children about this,” a RNLI volunteer told The Green News.
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