DUPONT Kevlar® is set to celebrate 30 years of manufacturing Kevlar® in Derry by sponsoring an exciting new feature of the Foyle Maritime Festival.The Science of Water will explore and explain scientific and fun facts about our rivers, oceans and all things maritime in an engaging and interactive way and encourage participants to ask… why do tides exist?
Where does our drinking water come from exactly and how can we future proof our marine wildlife?
Announcing details of the sponsorship today, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Maolíosa McHugh said he was delighted to have DuPont Kevlar® working with the Council on this educational programme of activity at the festival that will promote engineering and other STEM related subjects through a series of shows, exhibitions and talks with a maritime theme in an interactive environment that will educate as it entertains.
Derry’s Foyle Maritime Festival is set to bring the Quay to life from 14 – 22 July 2018 when the city will once again welcome yachts from the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for a 9-day action packed festival of activities for all the family.
The interactive education marquee will encourage students and families to explore their maritime heritage through the Science of the Sea theme and will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kevlar® being manufactured in Derry.
Mayor McHugh says the education programme is a very important element of the festival and is in keeping with the Council’s commitment set out in its Strategic Growth Plan to promote the STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and showcase our local industry and skills base.
“I am delighted that we have DuPont Kevlar® on board as partners for the festival and look forward to delivering a programme of engaging events that encourages those attending the festival to explore and appreciate their local environment and their close proximity to maritime heritage.
“DuPont has a long-standing relationship with Derry and Strabane and the wider North West region and we are delighted that the 30th anniversary of Kevlar® being manufactured in Derry will also be celebrated in the education programme,” he said.
Paul Kirkpatrick from DuPont Maydown said: “As a leading global science company we are delighted to support the festival and encourage the development of STEM in our local schools.
“We actively support our local schools in Strabane and Derry in many activities from work experience through to problem solving projects.
“The development and education of our young people is a key strategy for the city and essential to attract and retain top quality companies such as DuPont Kevlar®. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the local bodies to maintain and grow our STEM capabilities.”
Helena Hasson is the Foyle Maritime Festival Co-ordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council. She is delighted to have DuPont as one of the sponsors of the festival and is very excited about the introduction of this new educational element into the festival programme.
“The educational aspect of this year’s festival has really been ramped up to make it very visual and interactive and to really make people engage, explore and recognise the links between science and the sea.
“We are delighted to be working with DuPont Kevlar® on this project and look forward to announcing details of the education programme over the coming weeks in the run up to the festival,” she said.
Among the other key attractions at this year’s festival are Flavours of the Foyle with a demo kitchen and seafood trail, visiting Tall Ships, a spectacular Parade of Sail and light show and a 42-ft jazz music catamaran as well as lots of water-based activities, food and craft stalls.
For further details on the festival programme log onto the website www.foylemaritimefestival.com where you can sign up for programme updates, news and offers or you can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foylemaritimefestival and on Twitter @Foylemaritime
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