Science Week preparations in full swing

With only a month to go before Science Week Ireland 2007 kicks off on 11 November, science communicators around Ireland are working hard organising a huge variety of events.

Full details are on the Science Week website.

Leonardo's machines

If you're in the Loire Valley in France you might find a visit to the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life worthwhile.

The gardens around it are home to lots of large models of his machines that are a lot of fun to play with - the house is called Clos Lucé and its official website is at:

http://www.vinci-closluce.com/

Apple pushes science marketing

I think it's really interesting that Apple's revamped website includes a big marketing push aimed at scientists.

One particularly eyecatching strand of their science content showcases scientific imagery. Called Inside the Image - How scientists see the world its authors say it is:

"[a] column devoted to the exciting and fascinating world of scientific discovery and how images made in laboratories and publications in science advance our understanding of the world around us."

Leonardo da Vinci manuscript in Dublin

This weekend I finally made it along to see Leonardo da Vinci's "Codex Leicester" manuscript in Dublin's Chester Beatty Library.

Subtitled "Reflections on Water and the Moon", it was great to see some of his intricate scientific drawings first hand.

And I was a pleasantly surprised at how many people were there - it's not often that an exhibition of a scientific manuscript would attract so many curious visitors.

The exhibition runs until 12 August 2007 and tickets can be pre-booked online.