Opening October 21st at 12:00 noon (VIP Preview October 20th at 18:00)

The 6.775 billion people currently occupying this planet rely on exactly the same 1% of available freshwater as every previous generation. How can our planet’s natural systems sustain this and what does this mean for our future?

Water is both disposable and sacred, a source of healing and a source of conflict. Science Gallery’s new major exhibition, SURFACE TENSION, gathers work by artists, designers, engineers and scientists that explore the future of water, playing on its physical properties, its role in politics and economics, and ways in which it may be harnessed, cleaned, and distributed. Running for three months the exhibition features innovative artworks, events, and a lab in the gallery, all of which explore the complex tensions surrounding the future of water.

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

Among the many water-themed exhibits, events, workshops, and interactive experiences, you will find:

• A prototype for a robotic swarming sailing ship that could clean up oil spills in the future
• Umbilical filters, artificial insemination kits and precocious puberty dolls, all responding to rising levels of chemicals and hormones in our drinking water
• A water pump that requires the same amount of energy to fill a plastic bottle as would go into producing it – approximately 3 hours of pumping per liter; 1,000 times more energy than would be required for tap water
• Artist Fergal McCarthy will swim across Dublin from south to north via the city’s many and varied waterways. A film that documents his journey will be screened throughout the exhibition
• A project by TCD researchers and Dublin-based illustrator Chris Judge, exploring the future of washing

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Visitors to are invited to bring a water sample from their locality, participate in the exhibits, join the discussion and explore their own water footprint. Key exhibits include a water lab where you can investigate water quality of samples you bring to the gallery and an exhibit produced by IBM Smartlab and Dublin City Council, which will visualise water use in Dublin city in real time. Additional exhibits by world-renowned artists will include Petroc Sesti, Julius Popp, David Bowen, Katie Holten and Fergal McCarthy.

EVENTS

For tickets and full event listings, visit www.sciencegallery.com/events

26:10:11 18:00-19:00

APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY?

What happens when first-world solutions fail in developing countries? Why does innovation sometimes look good, but fall short of the mark?

SURFACE TENSION curator Ralph Borland, and political economist Professor Patrick Bond will present on water-related ‘appropriate technologies’, as received by communities on the ground in South Africa, and why ‘innovative solutions’ are sometimes anything but.

03:11:11 18:00-19:00

JAMES GLEICK: THE INFORMATION – SFI SPEAKER SERIES

One of the great science writers of our time, James Gleick will speak at Science Gallery about “THE INFORMATION”, his new bestselling book which analyses the history, evolution, and future of information. This event is part of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) speaker series, and a book signing will follow the talk.

04:11:11 18:30-22:00

SCIENCE GALLERY TABLE QUIZ 2.0

What singer wrote ‘She Blinded Me with Science’? How long before a Penrose pattern repeats? Is Twitter really over Capacity like it says, or does it stand outside Capacity’s door late at night crying tiny twitter tears? If our first table quiz left you with some unanswered questions, you’re not alone. These, and all other questions will be settled once and for all at the 2nd Science Gallery Table Quiz.

08:11:11 18:00-20:00

MCCANN FITZGERALD OPEN MINDS: ALEX OSTERWALDER

Alex Osterwalder, author of Business Model Generation speaks at Science Gallery as part of the McCann FitzGerald Open Minds series. Dr Osterwalder has engaged with clients spanning all continents and over 20 countries, advising on a variety of topics related to business models and business model innovation.

17:11:11 18:00-19:00

ALEXANDER VAN TULLEKEN: WATER, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT — SFI SPEAKER SERIES

Dr. Alex van Tulleken hasn’t led the most typical of careers. He worked with Medecins du Monde in Darfur, and he and his twin brother traveled to some of the most disease-ridden places from the equator to the arctic while filming in ‘Medicine Men Go Wild’. Alex will talk about health, water, and development.