Explore the future with Science Week on RTÉ
Explore the future with Science Week on RTÉ
Dive into a week of innovative, themed programming and content across RTÉ television, radio and online
Includes a dedicated slate of programmes and podcasts for kids Sunday 9th – 16th November | www.rte.ie/scienceweek
RTÉ will mark Science Week’s 30th Anniversary with a range of future-focused programming and content across television, radio and online from Sunday 9th – Sunday 16th November in support of this year’s theme – Then. Today. Tomorrow .
Science Week on RTÉ includes a second series of Futureville Ireland which explores some of the big ideas from Irish scientists that could shape Ireland’s first future city in 2050. The week also features a new season of 10 Things to Know About on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player that shines a light on the science that shapes and connects us all — from our health and homes to the planet we share.
A dedicated slate of programmes and podcasts for younger audiences also features prominently.
Science Week on RTÉ is supported by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR ALL THE FAMILY
>>> Futureville Ireland
(7.00pm, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th November)
Futureville Ireland is back for a second series and presenters Carla O’Brien and Dr Lollie Mancey are ready to further explore their vision for a city of the future for Ireland. Last year’s first series reimagined the midlands town of Athlone as a brand-new city for the year 2050.
In Futureville Ireland, the best of the old town would be rejuvenated, while brand new neighbourhoods and transport networks would be added. The response to last year’s series sees Carla and Lollie back again to show us that Futureville isn’t simply a pipe dream but a real possibility.
>>> 10 Things to Know About
(8.30pm on Monday 10th November)
In this Science Week episode of 10 Things to Know About, Kathriona Devereux, Amy Hassett and Fergus McAuliffe shine a light on the science that shapes and connects us all — from our health and homes to the planet we share.
>>> The Today Show
[Weekdays on RTÉ One @ 3.30PM]
The Today Show will fix its spotlight on science this week: Futureville Ireland presenters Carla O’Brien and Dr. Lollie Mancey are special studio guests on Thursday’s Today Show.
>>> RTÉ Archives
Marking the 30th anniversary of Science Week, RTÉ Archives dips into its vast repository of material assembled through the decades and reveals how we reported the future back in the past.
This will include:
A 1975 Newsround report on how a Wexford farmer is using the wind to generate energy to light his home and power farm equipment. (https://www.rte.ie/archives/2025/0202/1493204-wind-energy/)
An RTÉ News report from 2012 in which NUI Maynooth had developed a team of football playing robots, ROBO Éireann (https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/0628/886191-robots-to-assist-humans/)
A 1981 RTÉ News report which looked at whether a bicycle with a motor could offer an alternative form of transport. (https://www.rte.ie/archives/2021/1027/1256114-motorised-bicycle/)
HIGHLIGHTS FOR KIDS
RTÉ has lots on offer for younger viewers during Science Week, including:
>>> Auntie B’s Fantastic Facts is coming in 2026, but in advance of this new series, we have five episodes available exclusively for Science Week. As the name suggests, it’s jam-packed with facts as kids celebrate amazing scientific discoveries.
>>> Let’s Find Out – made with support from our friends at Research Ireland, is full of exciting experiments and more. Join Captain Zoom and her crew of scientists Amy Hassett and Mark Langtry for some STEM-tastic fun. Teachers can get lesson plans on www.RTE.ie/Learn.
>>>> On What’s Next?, kids from all over Ireland, with a little help from some influencers, compete to come up with ideas that will save the Earth. There are some amazing ideas, and we have classroom resources too.
>>> Take off with Space Camp Challenge. Follow eight Irish teens as they find out what it takes to be a real-life astronaut, training for a mission to Mars at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight. Made with support from Research Ireland.
>>> And there’s more. Come and meet the Atoms of Atom Town to explore the magic and wonder of the universe.
>>> In The Scavengers we see Ireland in the year 3000, the crew are the first humans to live on earth in 1000 years. What will life be like then?
Stream them all this Science Week on RTÉ Player – www.rte.ie/player/kids
RTÉjr Podcasts (RTÉjr Podcasts)
The RTÉ Kids Podcast team have lots of great content too! If you want to know about the world of AI, RTÉ’s first podcast dedicated to decoding it all is called Cookie Bytes.
We look forward to a cleaner, greener future with the help of the next generation. Get inspired by Ecolution and make a real change in your community with Our Sustainable Village.
Let’s Dive In returns with Phil Smyth and Julie Gould for a fourth season of answering questions, big and small, asked by children. From “How does a car move?” to “How come hedgehogs can hibernate and humans can’t?” we have every base covered.”
Over three seasons, The Science of Sense, started looking at your physical senses, then the natural elements and moved on to food, glorious food.
Listen and subscribe at https://www.rte.ie/radio/rtejr-podcasts/
HIGHLIGHTS ONLINE
On RTÉ Player
RTÉ Player is rich with science-themed content available to stream. The highlights include:
· Futureville Ireland
· Heated
· 10 Things to Know About
· Game Changer: AI & You
· Big Life Fix
· The End of the World with Beanz
· What Planet Are You On
· Father of the Cyborgs
· Birdsong
· Ireland’s Coast
· The Island
· Future Island Live
· The Change: Ireland’s Menopause Story
· Rising Tides: Ireland’s Future in a Warmer World
· Losing Alaska
On RTÉ Brainstorm
RTÉ Brainstorm will provide a series of think-pieces that spotlight the research featured on Futureville Ireland throughout Science Week.
Visit www.RTÉ.ie/brainstorm and www.rte.ie/scienceweek for a full range of science-themed pieces.
And RTÉ Weather will provide a number of special climate-themed bulletins and forecasts right throughout Science Week.
Science Week on RTÉ is supported by Research Ireland. For more information about on Science Week on RTÉ, see www.rte.ie/scienceweek.
ENDS
Futureville Ireland by episode
Episode 1 – Tuesday 11th November
In the first episode, Lollie introduces us to the idea of life with an AI companion. After experimenting with an AI boyfriend she called Billy, Lollie invites influencer Emma Keogh to see whether – after three weeks living with her own AI companion – Emma could imagine it replacing her own friends.
Carla discovers why and how, in Futureville, artistic expression will be on every street corner. She meets urban artist Maser to discover how, after a career spent painting on bricks and mortar, augmented reality is turning thin air into a brand new canvas.
The series joins geologist Sarah Hand on her search for a brand new energy source that could power Futureville non-stop, summer and winter, to deliver Ireland energy independence.
And meets Roger and his wife Brigid, who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. But new technology mean the pair can continue to enjoy their independence while continuing to live at home. This is thanks to a new system involving AI and movement sensors, which could mean Futureville’s elder generation never have to enter a nursing home.
While Carla meets the farmer in Cork who has abandoned his dairy farm in favour of breeding pigs. His new business model side steps the supermarkets and could mean that in 2050, Futureville can feed itself.
Episode 2 – Wednesday 12th November
In Episode 2, Carla goes on the hunt for the new source of vegetable protein that could fill our cupboards in 2050. Things don’t get off to a promising start when she finds herself standing waist deep in pond, thick with duckweed.
Later, she prepares a midweek dinner using some ingredients that today sound challenging but could easily be meal-time staples in Futureville. But how will Lollie react to being served cricket crumble?
Later, Lollie meets the communities whose big ideas about the environment could mean that Futureville and the natural world, will be able to exist side by side. And we hear from young entrepreneurs whose inventions are making sports events accessible to the visually impaired, right around the world.
Meanwhile Carla travels to Tipperary to meet a farmer working in his own kitchen to invent an edible plastic made from food waste that could mean an end to single-use plastics.
Episode 3 – Thursday 13th November
In the third and final episode Lollie travels to Helsinki to discover a new food source created from microbes and thin air. She also gets to enjoy an unusual gourmet meal cooked up by one of Finland’s finest chefs.
Carla comes face to face with a humanoid robot which today is keeping young people fit, but which, in Futureville, could be responsible for taking care of us as we age.
We meet the doctor pioneering a medical device fitted onto our hearts that could warn us when cardiac failure could be about to strike.
And we hear how a new scientific technique could make timber a more viable and practical option in the construction of Futureville.
Futureville Ireland is produced by Rare TV Ireland Ltd and is jointly-funded by RTÉ and Research Ireland.
For information:
Neil O’Gorman | Corporate Communications Manager, RTÉ |E: neil.ogorman@rte.ie