The Winter School takes place in Dublin and is usually held on a Saturday close to Boyle’s birthday, 25 January. It provides an opportunity for people near Dublin to explore the place of science in our culture where specialists and non-specialists can explore a particular theme through discussion, debate and reflection.
You can view previous topics at the bottom of the page.
2025 theme – the Brain: past, present & future
The Robert Boyle Winter School took place on Saturday 25th January 9.30 AM-4PM in the Minerva Suite, RDS, Dublin in association with the RDS Science Committee.
Admission is free but must be prebooked. Booking are closed.
The speakers for the Winter School include Prof. Dara Cannon, University of Galway; Prof Richard Roche, Maynooth University; Brian Trench, emeritus Dublin City University (DCU); Prof Pat Guiry, University College Dublin (UCD) and President Royal Irish Academy; Dr Alejandro Lopez Valdez, Trinity College Dublin (TCD); Eoin Gill, SETU; Kevin O’Sullivan, Science Editor – Irish Times and Prof Veronica Campbell, President SETU.
Zoom in by clicking on the image; find out more about them by clicking on their names.
Programme
Please note that the programme shown below is subject to change.
| Time | Robert Boyle Winter School | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9.30 – 10 AM | Registration | |
| 10 – 10.15 AM | Welcome | Dr Rachel Harding, RDS Science Committee |
| Morning Session | Chair: Dr Sheila Donegan | |
| 10.15-10.45 AM | Introduction | Eoin Gill |
| 10.45-11.15 AM | Remembering Prof Dervilla Donnelly | Prof Pat Guiry |
| 11.25-11.50 AM | Boyle Medalists of 1910s | Brian Trench |
| BREAK – Coffee and Tea | ||
| 12.15 – 1 PM | Irish Pioneers of Neuroscience: A Hidden Legacy | Prof Richard Roche |
| Lunch* (1h30) RDS Library exhibition during lunch time | ||
| Afternoon Session | Chair: Dr Nora Salaberry | |
| 2.30 – 3.15 PM | Imaging and Imagining: How imaging the brain is transforming our understanding of emotion | Prof Dara Cannon |
| 3.15 – 3.50 PM | Panel Discussion Current and Future promise of Brain Research with Prof Dara Cannon and Dr Alejandro Lopez Valdes | Chair: Kevin O’Sullivan |
| 3.50 – 4 PM | Closing Remarks | Prof. Veronica Campbell |
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This event is organised by CALMAST, South East Technological University’s STEM Engagement Centre in partnership with the Royal Dublin Society, and Lismore Heritage Centre. Thanks to the sponsors, this event is free but booking is essential.
Previous Programmes
Click on the title to see the programme of the previous winter schools.
- 2024: Science and Art
- 2023: Science, Ireland and Colonialism
- 2021: Science and Pandemics
- 2020: Climate Change: The Irish Story.
Partners and Sponsors
