SPACEFEST 2025 

Technological University Dublin’s Access and Outreach Service recently hosted SPACEFest at the Grangegorman campus, an exciting extension of the STEAM: Try Five + program, funded by Research Ireland, ESERO Ireland, the Department of Education and Youth, and Workday. It aims to ignite curiosity and foster engagement with STEAM subjects among primary school pupils from DEIS schools.

Over four incredible days, a wide variety of enriching and hands-on activities were available to all. 

Our ‘Build a Moon Base’ art exhibition showcased pupils’ scientific knowledge, creativity, and passion for STEM, with St. Gabriel’s NS winning top honors for their impressively well-designed base. We were delighted to welcome Colm Canning Program Manager from Workday; Brendan Owens, EPE Program Manager from Research Ireland; and Dr Niamh Shaw, PhD to meet pupils and celebrate their achievements. 
 
Armagh Planetarium: We were thrilled to welcome Dr Rok Nežič from the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, who brought the cosmos to life with live, interactive night sky tours inside a fully immersive 360-degree portable planetarium dome. 
 
From Hubble to Webb – Talk by Kevin Nolan: No space event at TU Dublin is complete without an awe-inspiring talk from Kevin Nolan, TU Dublin lecturer and Astrophysicist. Through stunning visuals and clear insight, he explained how Hubble and Webb telescopes complement each other and have reshaped our understanding of the universe

Niamh Shaw, PhD: We had the pleasure of hosting Dr Niamh Shaw PhD engineer, artist, and renowned space communicator, who shared her journey from aspiring astronaut to science advocate, offering a warm, witty, and inspiring view on exploration’s power to connect us all. 
 
The Bee Show: Dr Naomi Lavelle PhD, the ever-curious Science Educator, buzzed into action with a thrilling dive into the amazing world of bees, pollination, and seed-spreading—complete with hands-on experiments and surprising science that wowed curious minds of all ages. 
 
DIAS Dunsink Observatory: Led by Sadhbh Leahy, guests stepped into a night of cosmic wonder, where Ireland’s storied past in space met the exciting future of astronomical discovery. 
 
Live ISS Contact: The ARISS – Amateur Radio On The International Space Station event gave pupils a chance to speak live with ISS Commander Takuya Onishi as he orbited Earth. Organised by ARISS—a global volunteer program connecting students and astronauts via real-time amateur radio—this event offered a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 👉 Watch it again here: https://lnkd.in/eAcZ9f4c 

TU Dublin’s Access and Outreach Service remains committed to promoting early engagement with higher education among local primary schools. Initiatives like SPACEFest are designed to inspire young minds and expand their awareness of future educational and career possibilities. This would not be possible without the generous support of Workday and the dedication of the TU Dublin Access and Outreach team.