Bringing Science Alive - Science Week at Teagasc

Scientists at Teagasc’s agriculture and food centres are making final preparations for Science Week 2009, which takes place next week, 8-15 November. These open days for students will make science fun and interesting, and show the relevance of agriculture and food research to our everyday lives. From checking food for residues, to reducing greenhouse gases, student visitors will be shown the practical applications of science.

Teagasc, in supporting Discover Science and Engineering’s goal of promoting the relevance of science, engineering and technology and to demonstrate their importance to the future development of Irish society and the economy, has organised a number of exciting events for primary, second and third level students.

At Blanchardstown Public Library (9 November) ‘New science - New Foods’

“Functional Foods” are foods or dietary components that may provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. These foods already represent a significant worldwide market with projections for further growth in the future. However, the general public are often confused and sceptical when purchasing items which claim to confer a health benefit especially as they often command a premium price. Drs Nigel Brunton and Douglas Sorenson,researchers in the area of functional foods and based at Teagasc’s Ashtown Food Research Centre, will explain the concept of functional foods, the history behind their development and the evidence pointing toward their nutritional importance. Some of the more interesting functional compounds currently under investigation will be outlined as well as regulations in place to control ‘bogus’ health claims. Dr Sorenson will discuss the main new product and consumer trends driving the global functional foods market. The major challenges faced by companies when designing and marketing new functional foods will also be discussed. In addition, some of Teagasc’s ongoing research in this new and exciting area will be presented.

At Teagasc Grange Animal Production Research Centre (9 November)

The animal production and molecular biology research being carried out at Grange Research Centre in County Meath will be showcased with laboratory and field demonstrations. Visiting students will be given an overview of the scientific research process i.e., the process by which a scientific hypothesis is arrived at, how this hypothesis is tested and how the results are analysed and interpreted. This will be done in the context of beef production research programme at Grange.

In the field, the event will feature a grass budgeting and animal breeding demonstration. In the laboratory, students will discover the cellular molecules DNA, RNA and protein, and learn how DNA is transmitted to progeny. Grange work on allelic variants associated with traits of interest to the livestock industry (animal health, reproduction and production) will be outlined.

Blood tests, carried out at Grange to assess herd health and individual animal health and also to assess the levels of minerals and nutrients available to animals in order to optimise production, will also be shown.

At Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre, Dublin (10 November)

This fun-filled day will promote careers in scientific research through demonstrations and presentations on food technology, food marketing, microbiology and chemical analysis.

The Food Marketing Research Unit will introduce students to the importance of people’s lifestyles in terms of influencing their food choice purchases. In Prepared Foods they will see for themselves the difference between gluten-free, regular breads and dough, with some hands-on experiments.

In the new science of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, students will learn all about phytochemicals and bioactive compounds. They will also hear about the chemistry of colour in plants and carry out some experiments to extract the colours.

The Meat Technology will demonstrate sausage making while Food Safety will provide an overview of the centre’s research in microbiology; concentrating on food pathogens and their effects. It will incorporate demonstrations of bacteria on hands by UV detector. Residues analysts will show their work in tracking levels of illegal substances and veterinary drugs residues in food.

Walsh Fellowships Seminar, RDS, Dublin (11 November)

Young researchers, studying under the Teagasc Walsh Fellowships Scheme, will present their findings at the annual Walsh Fellowships seminar In Dublin. The theme of this year’s seminar is “Innovation in the agri-food sector”; reflecting Teagasc’s mission of supporting science-based innovation in the agri-food sector”. It provides a unique opportunity for the fellows, Teagasc and third level partners to showcase the knowledge outputs and potential impacts of the scheme within this nationally important sector. Ms Damini Kumar of NUI Maynooth and Ireland’s ambassador for the “European Year of Creativity and Innovation” is the guest speaker at the seminar.

At Teagasc Athenry (12 November)

Students from local schools will explore animal science, including visits to the animal reproduction and parasitology laboratories. Here students will see how science is being used to address issues related to reproduction and parasitism in cattle and sheep. They will also view alternative cattle and sheep breeds – their attributes and role(s) in Irish farming. Grassland and the environment will cover grass and clover species, nitrogen fixation and, the environmental issues associated with the use of slurry and fertilizer.

Students will also learn about forestry and biofuels, GPS mapping, milk and milk products. They will learn about the various training options for farming, including information on training requirements and alternative training options.

At Teagasc Moorepark Research Centre, Fermoy, Co Cork (12 November)

The Moorepark open day for local schools will involve a visit to both Moorepark Food Research Centre (MFRC) and Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre (MDPRC). On the food side, students will hear how probiotic bacteria work to fight off bad bacteria and how examining their DNA helps. They will also see how cream is separated and how butter and buttermilk are made.

On the dairy production side, students will see calves feeding, cows being milked, how ceramic cups are used in environmental measurements, and the different types of equipment used to monitor cow behaviour and welfare. They will learn about greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants and management of grasslands.

At Kildalton College, Pilltown, Co Kilkenny (11 & 12 November)

Local primary school students will be treated to a demonstration and discussion on how the honey bee communicates and behaves in the hive.

Using an observation hive, students will identify the different bees present in the hive and their function in the colony. Also, they will observe the bees communicating in different ways – dancing, scent, sharing nectar and so on. The visiting children will have the opportunity to see all the components of a hive and try out some of the equipment.

Dr Veronica Nyhan will display some pre-dissected farm animal organs; this will give an opportunity to see organ structures up close and maybe even some examples of common parasite damage.

At Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Carlow (12 November)

Undergraduate students from Carlow Institute of Technology will visit Oak Park Crops Research Centre where researchers from the breeding, pathology and biofuels programmes will highlight some of the research activities in progress.