All the fun of Front Square at Trinity's Child Health Research Festival

Posted on: 13 September 2024

Through interactive, hands-on and educational exhibits, demonstrations, games and displays, the Festival will bring to life the diverse research that Trinity undertakes in the area of children’s health. Visitors can find out how Trinity research is improving the quality of life for children and families in Ireland and beyond.

The Festival is a unique celebration of research and community engagement. Visitors can meet and chat with Trinity researchers and find out more about their work and its impact in the area of child health. Interactive exhibits will translate challenging research concepts into appealing and attractive points of interest, offering an environment where knowledge is shared and enjoyed.

The full Festival Programme of Events is available HERE.

Festival highlights

Gene Genie Puppet Theatre: an exciting collaboration between the scientist and the puppet master which will teach us about our genes and gene therapies.

Immune system exploration: through squishy-squashy bugs, fighting fit teddies and superhero medicines, we will learn how our immune systems keep us healthy.

Furry friends who help make mobility easier for children: join us in welcoming the mobility assistance dogs and puppies that play a crucial role in medical research for children with cerebral palsy.

Smile Safari: explore our mouths and our teeth and how we can maintain good dental health.

Our Brain Waves: investigate how our brains work through video game research.

The Fascinating World of Neurodiversity: engaging, hands-on workshop as we  journey through the important role of genetics in learning more about our neurodiverse world.

The Power of Parents: we will learn about the importance of recognising and responding to baby’s signals and how best to encourage language development.

Our young researchers and mobility assistance dog Nasha launched the Child Health Research Festival on Front Square

Commenting on the event, Professor Sinéad Ryan, Dean of Research at Trinity College Dublin said:

“I am thrilled that the Child Health Research Festival will take place on our historic campus this month. Trinity has been driving innovation in the field of child health and this festival offers a fantastic opportunity for children, families, researchers, students, and the wider public to come together to celebrate our exciting new discoveries through interactive exhibits.”

Professor Imelda Coyne,  Director of the Trinity Research in Childhood Centre, said:

“As the Director of the Trinity Research in Childhood Centre (TRiCC) I am excited that the Child Health Research Festival is taking place on our historic campus. The Festival offers a great opportunity to learn more about our ongoing research into how we can improve the health and wellbeing of children.”

Professor Eleanor Molloy, Professor of Paediatrics & Child Health, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin and Co- Director of the Trinity Research in Childhood Centre, concluded:

“As Professor of Paediatrics & Child Health, I am very proud that this unique Festival will showcase the novel and impactful research that we do in Trinity College, in association with Children’s Health Ireland and our clinical hospitals, to promote better health and wellbeing for children and families across Ireland.“ 

The event is a collaboration between the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Medicine at Trinity and takes place as a precursor to European Researchers’ Night 2024 at Trinity College. The event is funded by the European Union (under the Horizon Europe programme), to promote and celebrate science outreach across Europe.

No booking is required and all are welcome to attend on September 25^th between 3 and 7pm. You can view the full Festival Programme HERE.

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• Community
• Health
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