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A year-long programme of science-themed activities is currently getting underway throughout Ireland. The programme aims to demonstrate the reach of science into almost every aspect of life - education, culture, business, arts, sports and communities as well as how science touches and shapes our past, our present and our future.

Activity will peak during the ten days around ESOF 2012 with the ‘Science in the City’ festival from the 6th to the 15th of July 2012. The year-long national programme spans theatre, exhibitions, music, film, public talks, photography, festivals and fashion and will give you the opportunity to experience science in new and innovative ways. To date there are over 160 events planned for 2012. Some of the highlights include:

ESOF 2012 (Euroscience Open Forum). The Centerpiece event for Dublin City of Science 2012. Europe’s largest general science conference comes to the Convention Centre Dublin this July (11^th – 15^th). Some of the keynote speakers include: Mary Robinson, Craig Venter, Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Jean-Jacques Dordain, and Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

A Man in Half (Theatre Lovett). A gripping drama of suspense, terror and humour. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde’

Happy? (Science Gallery). This event is a national exploration of the factors that shape happiness and how these intersect with culture, innovation, health, creativity, ageing, entrepreneurship and social cohesion.

Hack the City (Science Gallery). A new interactive exhibition and event series that will explore the intricacies of our future cities from how we use new communication and social technologies to access public services, through to how we navigate our streets, to work, to socialise and to innovate.

Awakening Curiosity (The Ark). Awakening Curiosity explores nature, biodiversity and our environment in an imaginative fusion of art and science. Irish and international artists will create installations to stimulate and awaken children’s curiosity through rich, playful and imaginative experiences.

Future Visions (Irish Film Institute). From February to December of this year, the Irish Film Institute will mark the Dublin City of Science 2012 celebrations with Future Visions, a year-long nationwide secondary schools’ project. Future Visions will offer students the opportunity to engage with some of cinema’s most exciting depictions of the future.

Amaze Your Head (Irish Film Institute). Throughout 2012, The Irish Film Institute will mark the Dublin City of Science 2012 celebrations with a series of events that will provide an opportunity for active public engagement with science and related themes through film.

Treasure Hunt (St. Patrick’s Festival). One of the highlights of the St. Patrick’s Day festival 2012 will be the Science themed Treasure Hunt; a fun filled free event which offers participants the opportunity to discover (or rediscover) the many buildings, cultural venues, museums of interest throughout Dublin City.

Dublin Parade (St. Patrick’s Festival). The 2012 St. Patrick’s Festival Parade in Dublin will have a scientific theme to mark Dublin City of Science 2012. The pageant companies have all responded to a scientifically focused creative brief and will present a world class pageant piece in their own inimitable style.

Run the World (In Seven Parts) (Make and Do). Make and Do in association with Dublin Theatre Festival will present Wonderland, a game of scientific wonder through Dublin. Through the unique prism of science, players will use on and offline worlds to connect with one another and discover new layers to their city.

Putting Irish Science on the Map (Ingenious Ireland). From March Ingenious Ireland will be launching 2 maps celebrating and showcasing both modern and historic Irish science. The maps – one of Ireland, one of Dublin – will feature: selected sites of scientific interest; places to visit; and key ESOF/City of Science venues.

The Dublin Maker Faire (Science Gallery / NUI Maynooth / Irish Robotics Club). The Dublin Maker Faire will showcase many incredible, creative and thought-provoking projects. Incredible home spun innovations will be presented, bringing together, artists, scientists, technologists, crafts people, and makers in all walks of life from all over Ireland and internationally.

Science Hack Day Dublin (Irish Robotics Club /TOG / Redbrick) Science Hack Day is an all-day-all-night (36 hour) event that brings scientists, engineers, computer scientists and designers together to find solutions (hacks) to real-life problems and questions during a brief but intense period of collaboration.

Icarus at the Edge of Time (National Concert Hall). Author Brian Greene teamed up with American composer Philip Glass in this multimedia recreation of Greene’s board book for children Icarus at the Edge of Time; a futuristic reimagining of the classic Greek myth set in outer space, about a boy who challenges the awesome power of a black hole.

Improbable Frequency (Rough Magic). Popular musical set in Ireland in 1941 during The Second World War, Tristram Faraday, a British code-breaker is sent to Dublin to investigate mysterious radio messages and encounters Flann O’Brien (Myles na Gopaleen), John Betjeman and Dublin-based Nobel physicist Erwin Schrödinger.

Baboro(International Arts Festival for Children). Scientists and schools and community groups will come together to find ways of creating a low carbon future. The schools and community groups must find a partner e.g. Local Authority, major company and get them to change their carbon consumption. Artists will interpret and illustrate the findings of the schools and community groups.

Science for All (Dublin City Libraries). Throughout 2012, Dublin City’s public libraries will run a co-ordinated programme of events with a scientific theme. These will run in to national programmes such as Science Week, Engineers Week, Bealtaine, Heritage Week and Children’s Book Festival.