Carnival of Science

15 Jun 2024

The ITEN stand welcomed a significant number of distinguished visitors over the weekend, including the Lord Mayor and Tánaiste Micheál Martin. It was a pleasure to observe them actively engage with the stand, examine the pine tree specimen under the microscope, and cast their votes for their preferred tree species. The overwhelming success of this event makes it abundantly clear that there is a strong and growing appetite within the Cork community for expanding knowledge and appreciation of trees. The level of engagement and the overwhelmingly enthusiastic responses to our surveys clearly demonstrate the public's keen interest in learning more about trees.

It was an incredible experience to assist at the Irish Tree Explorer Network (ITEN) stand during Cork's Carnival of Science, which took place on June 15th and 16th in Fitzgerald's Park. Wearing my UCC high-vis vest with pride, I was thrilled to be part of this engaging event and delighted to see a diverse crowd of visitors and families surrounding the ITEN stand. The stand featured several trees species grown on the UCC campus, including an oak, a strawberry tree from the greenhouses, and even a rare Wollemi tree that captivated the audience. Educational aspects abounded, with tree-themed postcards, booklets, and worksheets available for the public to peruse. The highlight was undoubtedly the ballot box, where a constant queue of eager participants voted for their favourite tree. Another hugely popular activity was the microscope display showcasing a cross-section of a pine tree, sparking curiosity in all who witnessed it. Worksheets challenging visitors to identify common Irish tree species by their leaves were a hit, as was the detailed key providing information on leaf shapes. The Ogham writing system, where participants inscribed their names to reveal associated trees or plants, was a delightful interactive experience. The African violet grown in tissue culture was a great conversation starter, and for many, it served as an introduction to this topic and the conservation benefits of it. Finally, the cardboard photo frames were a resounding success, providing families with a fun way to capture memories of the day.

The ITEN stand welcomed a significant number of distinguished visitors over the weekend, including the Lord Mayor and Tánaiste Micheál Martin. It was a pleasure to observe them actively engage with the stand, examine the pine tree specimen under the microscope, and cast their votes for their preferred tree species.

The overwhelming success of this event makes it abundantly clear that there is a strong and growing appetite within the Cork community for expanding knowledge and appreciation of trees. The level of engagement and the overwhelmingly enthusiastic responses to our surveys clearly demonstrate the public's keen interest in learning more about trees.

Carnival of Science Favourite Tree Survey Results

The survey has revealed the Carnival of Science stats, in joint 5th place is Ash and Sycamore tree. The Sycamore tree has large, distinctive 5-lobed leaves that are dark green in colour and develop dark spots and turn yellow in the autumn.  The Ash tree is renowned for producing wood that is exceptionally strong and flexible. This wood has been historically utilised in the creation of a diverse range of products, from sporting equipment like hurley sticks to durable furniture.

In 4th place was the Apple tree, The crab apple is one of Ireland's 28 native tree species, valued not only for its edible fruit but also its beautiful spring blossoms and autumn foliage.

In 3rd place was Horse Chestnut tree. Horse Chestnut tree large, deciduous tree. The Horse Chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum) are known for producing large, shiny brown conkers that are surrounded by a spiky green husk. The conkers fall to the ground in autumn and are consumed by mammals such as deer and squirrels.

In 2nd place was Cherry Blossom while not native to Ireland, has become a popular ornamental tree in parks, gardens and along streets, known for its showy pink or white flowers that bloom in early spring.

In 1st place was Oak tree. One of Ireland's most iconic native tree species, with two main varieties found in the country - the pedunculate or English oak (Quercus robur) and the sessile or Killarney oak (Quercus petraea). Oak trees are known for their distinctive lobed leaves that are dark green in summer and turn shades of brown, red and purple in autumn before falling off the deciduous tree.  The Oaks are an important part of Ireland's woodland ecosystems and biodiversity, providing food and habitat for a wide variety of wildlife including birds, insects and mammals.

Figure 1. Overview of Carnival of Science Favourite Tree Survey Results

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The ITEN team

Based at UCC, the team includes Dr Eoin Lettice, Dr Barbara Doyle Prestwich, Emma Hutchinson and Gabriella Chisholm from the School of BEES and Prof. Claire Connolly and Dr. Claire Nolan from the School of English and Digital Humanities.

To keep up with project news and updates, follow iten_ucc on Twitter and Instagram and the Irish Tree Explorers Network on Facebook.