Probe comes to Trinity College

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Image by Pilgab on Wikipedia.

Probe, a free evening of music, talks, performances and workshops that explore the fascinating research that is shaping the world, will take place tomorrow.


Running from 5pm to 9pm, the event will showcase people who do life-changing work, solve major global issues and help create a safer, healthier and more equal society. Solutions to today’s biggest problems will be explored through debates, interactive workshops, secret screenings and more.

The seminar “Changing Ireland, Changing Law” will be held in the Trinity Long Room Hub from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, with law professors Ivana Bacik and Mary Rogan discussing the effect of legal action on social change. They will be joined by litigants Máirín De Burca, David Norris, and Lydia Foy, whose cases have caused legal and social change in Ireland, and Rachel Power from the Public Interest Law Alliance.

“Ethical Dilemmas in Science and Medicine” will be a discussion on the ethical dilemma of a person’s right to privacy standing in the way of a medical breakthrough, and the role played by law and ethics in such a case. It will be hosted by science writer Claire O’Connell of Silicon Republic and the Irish Times and feature biomedical scientists Cliona O’Farrelly and Orla Shiels and philosophy researcher Luna Dolezal. In the GMB Building’s Debating Chamber from 5pm to 6pm, they will discuss the recruitment of patients for health studies, the role of law in medicine, and how shame and stigma can impact patients.

In perhaps the most enthralling event of the night is “Thesis in 3: Trinity College Dublin Final”, where students will have the task of presenting their masters or PHD on just three slides in three minutes. By delivering fast-paced talks where they discuss their research with enthusiasm (possibly brought on by caffeine), they will have a chance to progress to the national final. Visitors will have a chance to witness this in the Debating Chamber from 6.30pm to 8pm.

These are just three of over 50 events taking place over the course of the evening, the full list of which can be found here.

Probe is free and open to people of all ages, and anyone wishing to attend needs to register at this webpage.

By Kevin Carney