Join Andrew Smyth (BBC’s Great British Bake Off finalist & aerospace engineer) and scientist, performer and explorer Dr Niamh Shaw on a Science week gastronomic journey into orbit – a fun family event about space, engineering and Astronauts, through the medium of food!

How can a retro dessert explain how astronauts safely return to Earth? What connects molten sugar and micro-meteorite protection? How would you even bake bread in space?

This interactive Science week event, with special guests from the European Space Agency, will explore the surprising connections between everyday bakes and the extraordinary engineering that helps keeps astronauts alive in space.

The hit of Edinburgh International Science Festival 2018, the show ponders the fascinating science behind baking, eating in space and testing if we could actually bake a cake on the International Space Station. Joined by Romain Charles, Crew support at ESA’s Astronaut Centre, and others guests, this is a fun, interactive family event, with live demos, experiments and lots and lots of baking.

This is a science week event not to be missed.

ABOUT SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND: Science Foundation Ireland funds oriented basic and applied research in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) which promotes and assists the development and competitiveness of industry, enterprise and employment in Ireland. The Foundation also promotes and supports the study of, education in and engagement with, STEM and promotes an awareness and understanding of the value of STEM to society and in particular to the growth of the economy.

ABOUT ANDREW SMYTH
Andrew Smyth is an engineer, baker and presenter who gained a nationwide following for his outrageously engineered creations when he reached the final of BBC’s The Great British Bake Off in 2016. He divides his time between Aerospace research, presenting events and contributing to TV, radio & online features. He has toured his live “bakineering” show around the UK and has even baked a rotating jet engine cake for Prince William. Constantly curious, he is inspired by flying machines of all sorts and has dreams of becoming a science broadcaster. https://www.cakesmyth.com/

ABOUT NIAMH SHAW
Dr Niamh Shaw is an engineer, scientist, performer and explorer of all things Space. This is her third year working with British Council Ireland for Science Week with their ‘Art in Mind’ event series. She is actively pursuing her dream to get to space and has participated in a simulated Mars mission in the Utah desert, has experienced microgravity on a Zero G parabolic flight and makes theatre shows about her mission to space. A regular on TV and radio, she has spoken internationally about her work including Space Rocks, Wired Live, New Scientist Live and will speak at NASA Johnson Space Centre on November 7th at their annual Cross Industry Innovation Summit. https://www.niamhshaw.ie

Funded by Science Foundation Ireland and delivered in partnership by British Council Ireland, Dr Niamh Shaw and Andrew Smyth with the assistance of CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory and the European Space Agency, ESERO Ireland and the kind support of  Yakult.