MyScience.ie

Lots of good events on in the Science Gallery this month. From the 24-29 March, visitors will be able to participate in the development of METROPOLIS – a virtual Dublin which brings together computer graphics, engineering and cognitive neuroscience research. Check out the events page for a detailed overview of the events.

Highlights will include an overview from the research team involved in the METROPOLIS project into how far it has progressed in its two years of development; a talk from Hans Rijpkema, Senior Software Developer at the Academy Award winning studio Rhythm & Hues, about the evolution of visual effects industry; and a screening of the movie Metropolis.

Tying in with the theme of METROPOLIS Science Gallery’s Book Club PRISM will discuss “The Wisdom of Crowds” by James Surowiecki on 25th March. New Yorker columnist James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea that has profound implications: large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant the experts – crowds are better at solving problems, fostering innovation, coming to wise decisions and even predicting the future.

For me though, the most interesting event is this month’s RAW debate on 26 March which is entitled ‘Are Babies Bad for the Planet?’ The event will discuss overpopulation and look at whether there are too many people on the planet to cope with. An extremely sensitive topic in political circles, the two sides will debate whether sustainable population control methods are required in order to save the environment and reduce poverty, or whether in fact the pressures will lead to a new wave of innovation which will develop green technology.