Talk for Grown-Ups: Beekeeping and their Importance in the Ecosystem 14 Nov 2019
As part of Science Week 2019, The Ark is delighted to present a free talk on bees & beekeeping by Dr Niamh Shaw.
It is estimated that one third of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees, but also by other insects, birds and bats. Globally there are more honey bees than other types of bee and pollinating insects, so it is the world's most important pollinator of food crops. Pollination is not just important for the food we eat directly, it's vital for the foraging crops, such as field beans and clover, used to feed the livestock we depend on for meat.
Dr Niamh Shaw, theatre maker, scientist and bee enthusiast, will present a fascinating talk for grown-ups that links with this year's Science Week theme of 'Climate Action'. In her inspiring style showing us the importance of bees in our ecosystem, the basic principles of beekeeping and what we can learn from apiculture as a community.
About Dr Niamh Shaw...
Dr Niamh Shaw is an Irish engineer, scientist and performer. She is passionate about igniting people’s curiosity and particularly interested in doing this by combining creativity with science topics. She presents the human story of science, creating theatre shows, public events and contributions to media with this focus. She has set herself a life’s mission to get to space, as artist and explorer. She hopes that by sharing the human story behind such a venture, it will help us better understand our place in the story of space, and the beauty of our planet Earth.
Recently voted one of Ireland’s leading science communicators and STEAM specialists (merging science, technology, engineering, arts and maths), her contribution to science and its application to Irish life was acknowledged by Uachtaráin na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins at his annual St Patricks Day reception in 2017 in Áras an Uachtaráin. She is artist in residence at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, Humanities co-chair at 2018 Space Studies Programme, and the Dublin point of contact for Ireland’s national Space week.
Niamh provides specialised communication workshops for researchers and academics. She collaborates with research and science institutions, arts & media centres, private corporations and NGO’s to attract new audiences of all ages to science and space. She contributes to BBC’s monthly Sky at Night astronomy magazine and writes a multimedia column aimed at adults to encourage new ways to engage with STEM, for the online journal Headstuff .
Niamh believes that we can be many things at the same time. She is curious, always and embraces failure every day.
She wants you to experience science-with feeling.
