ni science festival at ulster museum

See the incredible events NI Science Festival are hosting at the Ulster Museum this February 2026!

The Ulster Museum atrium showing the 3 dragons

Date

February 2026

Wednesday 11th February

Extinction Explorers - Fully Booked

Explore the Ulster Museum's natural science galleries with a free, family-friendly tour.

Thursday 12th February

Minecraft Rocks! - Fully Booked

Find out if the real rock is as good as the Minecraft version – or even better! Discover different rock specimens in the Elements Gallery in this free object-handling session.

a girl pointing at a display of butterflies and insects

Metamorphosis: How Insects are Changing our World

Before humans ever left their mark on the planet, insects had already shaped it into the colourful and extraordinary world we know today. In her trademark lively and insightful style, Erica McAlister – author, entomologist, and champion of all things creepy-crawly – comes to the Ulster Museum to reveal how these tiny creatures continue to transform our understanding of science, nature, and ourselves.

Designing Tomorrow with RoundView - 12th & 22nd Feb

Join this interactive workshop to co-create a positive climate narrative using the RoundView framework. Through games, puzzles, and art, explore the causes of environmental challenges and discover hopeful, practical solutions that turn climate anxiety into meaningful action.

Friday 13th February

Creating Colour in Art, 2 girls colouring in.

Creating Colour in Art - Fully Booked

Step into the wonderful world of colour at the Ulster Museum on Friday 13th February. Explore the collections in a family-friendly guided tour, handle objects, and take part in a colour workshop!

Chemistry and the Celts

Journey back in time with Scientific Sue as ancient history meets modern science! Discover how the Irish Celts used chemistry to extract iron, craft tools, and create colourful dyes and medicines.

Get Arty with Archaeology

Join HERoNI archaeologists Bronagh Murray and Hannah Parker for a hands-on illustration and crafts workshop. Come along and make your own pop-up castle or craft your own replica Bann disc.

Saturday 14th February

Maths Explorers at Ulster Museum

Come join us for a fun, interactive session to explore the wonderful world of maths with your little ones at Ulster Museum! Our event is perfect for 3-6 year-olds and their families. Come and play brilliant games and learn about maths together. There will be free resources to take home too!

From Grey Wolves to Grey Squirrels - Fully Booked

Enjoy a free, family-friendly gallery tour exploring the history of the island of Ireland through its landscape and wildlife.

Sunday 15th February

Astrofest

Join our science curator and experts from the Irish Astronomical Association for a full day of talks, demonstrations and interactive activities. Learn how to capture your own astrophotography, handle real meteorites from the Moon and Mars, and ask astronomers anything you’ve ever wondered about space. This is a free event with no booking needed!

Wednesday 18th February

Ulster Museum Lecture Theatre in use Black and white image

Behind The Scenes: Natural Science Collections Talk

Join us for a curator-led talk exploring the fascinating world of our Natural Science collections. From plants, insects, and snails to birds, mammals, and fossils, these specimens tell the story of our natural world - past and present.

Saturday 21st February

Colourful Oceans

Discover the hidden beauty of microscopic marine organisms as you bring them to life with colour. This activity combines art and science, offering a relaxing and educational experience that celebrates the wonders of the ocean’s tiniest creatures.

Placards saying Power to the Young People and Equality is a Right displaying in an exhibition at Ulster Museum

Generation Hope NI

Generation Hope is a day of inspiring workshops exploring how creativity, culture and community can help us respond to the climate crisis. Through hands-on activities and guided discussions, participants will imagine better futures, develop practical skills, and explore new ways to take positive action in their own lives.

Can Geology Save the World? with Chris Jackson

Geologist Chris Jackson invites you to reimagine the almost unimaginable ways in which geology and geologists shape our lives and livelihoods He’ll take you on a multi-billion-year journey through space and time to reveal how many of the great social, environmental, and economic challenges of the 21st Century require geologists.

Maps & Memories Art Workshop - Fully Booked

Create your very own mystical map and hear tales of the mapping of Ireland 200 years ago. Starting at Divis Mountain, a group of surveyors started to map Ireland 200 years ago and now it’s your turn! Learn about how to read maps, draw symbols and use your imagination to create a world of your own. Free to attend, but booking is essential.

Mapping Ireland

Join UTV’s Joe Mahon for a conversation about the OS 200 year anniversary with Professor Kieth Lilley and Dr Frances Kane. As part of this talk, audience members can try out an interactive map to find out the origins and meanings of over 30,000 place-names from all over Northern Ireland with expert guidance from our panelists.

Sunday 22nd February

Draw Your Universe

John Devolle shares his Big Science for Little Minds books ATOMS and HUMANS before a creative workshop where you can draw or collage your own universe — planets, stars, creatures, plants, even yourself! Because everything you can see (including you!) is made of atoms!

Play and Learning with Numbers and Language - Fully Booked

At the event, researchers will provide parents with evidence-based ideas and activities, for example to help engage their children in learning at home. What parents do with their children at home is very important for young children’s learning. Free to attend but booking needed.

Dinosaurs! With Ben Garrod

Pitting the knowledge of unwitting parents against their all-knowing kids, Professor Ben presents an interactive, educational and highly entertaining show.  So come and test your knowledge against Professor Ben in this hit live interactive show which is bigger and better than ever.

Bed & Soil - 11th to 22nd February

A new art intervention in the Ulster Museum staged by Irish artist, Hannah Casey-Brogan. The collage responds to botanical specimens from the Ulster Museum collection, which are now extinct from the shores of Lough Neagh.