Scientists at the country's leading information and communications technology research institutes have been a big hit with children during Science Week as a result of a novel educational programme using music to teach physics.
Scientists at the Tyndall Institute in Cork have developed the Sound Show, a workshop which demonstrates the physics of sound through the use of a wide range of musical instruments.
The show originated from a request in 2003 from students at Scoil Spiorad Naoimh in Bishopstown who wanted to know how sound was generated in musical instruments.
Patricia Hegarty of the institute says staff discovered while answering students' questions that there was potential to devise a workshop for students of all ages. "The workshop is colourful and noisy but effective - by the end of the Sound Show, participants get to play in the Tyndall Institute Orchestra which is unlikely to be heard on Lyric FM but whose membership know a great deal about how sound is generated."
Ms Hegarty said the project was originally aimed at primary school pupils but the Tyndall Institute has since incorporated a secondary school programme involving demonstrations relating to the physics of sound.
She explained that secondary teacher Adrian Landen, from Ashton School in Blackrock, had worked with Stephen Fahy of Science Foundation Ireland and technicians from UCC's physics department to create many demonstrations including the breaking of a glass using sound.
The Sound Show is proving particularly popular during Science Week, said Ms Hegarty. "We have linked science with everyday household things to produce an array of colourful instruments in a very hands-on workshop. Each participant leaves the show with a knowledge of physics that will stimulate interest and thought the next time they hear a musical instrument or any piece of music," she said.
