Ireland’s First Outdoor Nano-Art Exhibition at Trinity College Dublin

Posted on: 14 June 2013

Ireland’s first outdoor nano-art exhibition celebrating Nanoweek 2013 and CRANN’s 10 year anniversary will take place in Dublin and Cork from Friday 14th June – Friday 5th July. Free to the public, NanoArt 2013 will see over 100 images taken from nanoscience research at CRANN, Tyndall National Institute, Cork and MSSI, University of Limerick, on display in the grounds of Trinity College Dublin at Fellow’s Square (beside the Entrance to the Book of Kells), the Triskel Arts Centre, Cork and foyer of Tyndall National Institute.

The images have been chosen to show the beauty of nano-landscapes and nano-structures and the scale at which nanoscience research is undertaken – up to 2,000 times smaller than a grain of salt – and to bring nanoscience to a wider public audience.

The images will also be on display at a number of cafés and pubs around Dublin and Cork. Images are available online and viewers can enter a competition to vote for their favourite.

Nanoweek 2013, coordinated by the NanoNet Ireland network, marks the importance of nanoscience to the Irish economy; the excellence of nanoscience research within our universities, and look to grow public awareness of a technology which is fundamental to medicine, communications, pharmaceuticals, energy and transport among other industries.

Europe’s largest nanoscience meeting, EuroNanoForum 2013, takes place on 18th – 20th June at Dublin’s Convention Centre. The forum, which will include an opening address from Brussels by EU Commissioner for Science, Research and Innovation Máire Geoghegan Quinn, will attract over 1200 international delegates, 90 exhibitors and over 120 speakers.

The exhibition area which includes stands from Trinity’s Science Gallery’s Magical Materials exhibition will be open free to the public on Thursday 20th June from 9am – 2.30pm. With limited space, visitors should register in advance at https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/805/register

Professor John Boland, Director of CRANN, representing NanoNet Ireland said: “Nanoweek is about celebrating the impact of nanoscience both on the economy and for society. Ireland is a base for 90% of the world’s technology companies and 70% of medical companies, and the quality of our nanoscience research contributes to those companies locating and expanding here. The sector is crucial for our economy, and Nanoweek delivers that message to Government, to industry and to the public. As a sector that affects every product we consume, it’s important that public awareness of nanoscience grows. We wanted to develop a series of exhibitions that act as conversation starters about nanoscience. It’s only when people start discussing science, that it becomes a real option for study and work, and its potential impact can truly take off.”

Nanoweek 2013, an initiative of NanoNet Ireland, runs from 17th – 23rd June 2013.