From the Atlantic coastline to Tralee Bay Wetlands, water shapes life across Kerry. This November, Kerry Science Festival will invite people of all ages to explore that connection through a free programme of interactive exhibitions, workshops and conversations.
Led by Munster Technological University (MTU), the festival returns for its 11th year as part of Research Ireland’s National Science Week, taking place from 8–15th November. This year’s theme, Water: From Molecule to Ocean, explores the resource that connects our health, environment, communities and future.
Across Kerry, the programme will bring over 40 events in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths to life, with opportunities for families, schools and community groups to get involved. The water theme has particular relevance locally, from the county’s rivers, lakes and coastline to the role water plays in agriculture, biodiversity and everyday life.
Highlights of Kerry Science Festival 2026 include:
- STEM Showcase Day, Saturday 14th November, MTU Kerry Campus: The festival’s largest public event will feature interactive exhibitions, hands-on experiments, a water-themed scavenger hunt and many more family activities, giving visitors the chance to explore science and technology together.
- A Beginner’s Guide to the Water Cycle and the Role of Wetlands, Tralee Bay Wetlands Ecology Park: An opportunity to discover how the water cycle works and the role wetlands play in our environment.
- Pint of Science, Maddens Café: Researchers will share their work in an informal setting, inviting audiences to ask questions and discover the science behind their research.
- Sink or Think: Innovation Skills for Uncharted Waters: Presented by Network Ireland Kerry Branch, this event will explore how an innovator’s mindset can help people navigate business and workplace challenges.
Professor Joseph Walsh, Vice Dean for Research and Innovation in MTU’s Faculty of Engineering and Kerry Science Festival Lead, said
“Kerry Science Festival is a celebration of curiosity. Every year, MTU partners with schools, businesses and community groups to show that science belongs to everyone. We are grateful to Research Ireland for their continued support, which enables us to bring the Festival to more towns and villages across the county, so that people of all ages can discover how science and technology shape the world around them.”
Sarah Flaherty, Project Manager and Kerry Science Festival Coordinator at MTU, said
“This year’s programme offers lots of ways to get involved and discover something new. Whether you are experimenting with your family, learning the science behind bubbles, seeing how natural waste fibres become 3D printing materials or chatting with a researcher over a coffee, there is something for everyone. All events are free, so we encourage people across Kerry to see what’s on and come along.”
Kerry Science Festival is supported by Research Ireland and delivered by MTU in collaboration with schools, community organisations and industry partners across the county.
All festival events are free. For the full programme, event details and booking information, visit www.kerryscience.ie/events.
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