'Diary of a Martian Beekeeper'- a theatrical performance to capture the power of the collective in human space exploration
- Paper number
IAC-18,E1,9,12,x42169
- Author
Dr. Niamh Shaw, Ireland
- Coauthor
Ms. Sarah Baxter, Ireland
- Coauthor
Ms. Clair McSweeney, Ireland, CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory
- Coauthor
Ms. Stephanie O'Neill, Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland
- Coauthor
Ms. Cathy Foley, Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland
- Coauthor
Dr. Niall Smith, Ireland, Cork Institute of Technology
- Coauthor
Dr. Aidan Cowley, Germany, ESA
- Coauthor
Mr. Jules Grandsire, Germany, European Space Agency (ESA)
- Coauthor
Ms. Lorraine Conroy, The Netherlands, ESTEC-European Space Agency Technology and Research Centre
- Coauthor
Ms. Aoife White, Ireland
- Coauthor
Mr. Ger Clancy, Ireland
- Coauthor
Mr. Bill Woodlnad, Ireland
- Coauthor
Ms. Aine O'Hara, Ireland
- Coauthor
Mr. Eoin Kilkenny, Ireland
- Year
2018
- Abstract
'Diary of a Martian Beekeeper' is the third theatre show by Niamh Shaw and her second collaboration with European Space Agency and CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory Cork. Funded by Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme 2017, Niamh conducted a series of field trips at the Astronaut Centre in Cologne, interviewing employees working in different research departments. These testimonies and previous interviews with astronauts and other space scientists were interweaved in to the finished script, with the dramatised segments representing the individual within the collective. The final production created was a highly visual theatricalised exploration of future interplanetary human exploration. With beekeeping as motif, the set, sound, lighting and audio visual designers created a new world order, reflecting the power of the collective, the fragility of the solitary human and the united will behind all major breakthroughs. 'Diary of a Martian Beekeeper' premiered at Space week Ireland in 2017, toured nationally in 2018 as part of Engineers week Ireland and an international tour is in place for 2019. Positioning science within story and placing the human at the centre of the narrative is a highly effective tool in igniting curiosity across many audience types. Blending humour, warmth and humanity whilst disseminating difficult scientific topics has been shown to be an effective new form of public engagement. The nurturing and investment of artists working within these new cross-disciplinary relationships and the establishment of similar initiatives in other research centres warrants further investigation.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)