ADDRESS BY MR. NOEL TREACY T.D., MINISTER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMERCE AT THE RTE LAUNCH OF "BIG SCIENCE" ON WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER, 1998 AT 2.30 P.M. IN ST. HELEN'S HOTEL, STILLORGAN, DUBLIN

Ladies and Gentlemen, when I launched Science Week Ireland last Thursday I talked at some length about Science and Technology in Ireland being on the up and up.

I suppose when a science documentary series appears at prime time on the main national television channel, one could say that S&T has arrived and is truly up there.

However, on a more serious vein, in a number of respects, we have seen far greater interest in matters of a Science and Technology nature over recent years whether in terms of public interest or Government policy or activity in the business and research sectors.

Perhaps this level of interest and activity culminates noticeably in the business sector, where those sectors and companies which are driven by R&D and technical skills are far and away the most successful in terms of growth, exports and employment. In the business media too, a lot of attention focuses on the technology driven stocks; including I am happy to say, a number of successful Irish companies.

However, long before a piece of scientific research, or a software entrepreneur or a technician in a company laboratory realises that he or she has a unique product, there is a need for a process of educating our children, informing the public and generally creating a more receptive attitude towards Science and Technology.

That is the ambitious aim of the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme, which is managed by Forfás and funded by our Office of Science and Technology at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The theme of the Programme is "Science for a Successful Ireland" and the key messages which it aims to deliver are that Science, Technology and Innovation:

• develops leading edge industry and skilled jobs;
• develops exciting career options; and
• develops creativity in our children.

As well as addressing specific audiences such as school-goers, the business sector and decision makers, the Programme aims through the media, to inform the public at large about Science and in particular scientific developments in Ireland. While the main focus is on the contribution of Science and Technology to our economic development, there is also the wider social and educational dimension to scientific development.

Science impacts on our every-day lives to a far greater extent than ever before. It is in our agriculture, our environment, our food, our education, our arts media and sports, in health matters and in transport. The modern economy and the modern citizen, therefore requires some basic appreciation about the influence of Science and Technology to be equipped for the modern lifestyle. The man or woman in the street will get this information most likely through the media and it is gratifying to see that the media in general has responded to the public appetite for more coverage of S&T matters in recent years.

It is with great satisfaction therefore that I convey the thanks of Government, to the National Broadcaster for its excellent contribution in this regard.

RTE has carried programmes on S&T matters in the past, but I feel safe in saying that at no time did we ever have the prospect of both a science documentary series, a series on new technology, a weekly radio programme and a science slot on children's T.V. all in the same year.

May I pause here to personally congratulate Mr. Bob Collins, Director General of RTE for the commitment which I know that he personally has given to the area of Science and Technology and which the new "Big Science" documentary series ably demonstrates. I would also like to thank Neasa Ni Chinneide, Head of Unit, and Jim Jenkins the producer of the Documentary series for their considerable input to the programmes.

I also take some satisfaction from the fact that all these programmes from RTE have been made with the help of funding from Government and in particular from the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme. I hope that it will be possible for us to continue to collaborate with RTE in such ventures in the future.

Indeed, I believe that the Awareness Programme has already demonstrated that there is an abundance of exciting material in the Irish S&T scene of interest to the public which would support many T.V. and Radio programmes/series in the future.

I am absolutely delighted that we are launching this series in the course of Science Week Ireland which is a collection of some 150 event around the country ranging from public lectures, exhibitions, school competitions, road shows, conferences and so forth, all pertaining to the world of Science and Technology in Ireland.

What Science Week Ireland demonstrates is that:

• firstly, there is a wealth of S&T activity going on in Ireland;
• secondly, S&T practitioners are prepared to communicate that activity to the public; and
• thirdly, that there is a public appetite for these matters.

On this last point, I must say, that the increased media coverage of S&T matters has heightened the public's appetite. I have no doubt that Programmes such as "Big Science" will continue to fuel this demand. We need only look at the huge increase in interest in Gaelic Football and Hurling which has taken place over the last few years. Increases in attendances at matches are directly attributable to RTE's excellent coverage of games throughout the summer months. Gaelic games are now very much back at centre stage as part of our cultural and social lives despite increased competition from other international sports.

I have no doubt that T.V. Programmes such as "Big Science" can over time, have the same effect for Science and Technology matters.

Indeed those of you who witnessed that fine spectacle in Croke Park on 27 September last, will have noticed that my beloved Galway introduced a new Science to the art of Gaelic Football!

While there is a national audience to be satisfied, I believe there is another objective which we should also address. This is to demonstrate the quality of Irish Science and Technology to an international audience and again of course this is best done through the media. I hope that RTE will look to the Irish scene for inspiration on topics and people for its future programming in this area.

I will conclude by once again sincerely thanking Mr. Bob Collins and his staff at RTE for their innovation in this area as well as to thank Mr. John Travers, Chief Executive Forfas, the members of the Awareness Panel and the staff at Forfás for their continued good work in promoting Science and Technology, throughout Ireland.