http://www.siliconrepublic.com/fs/img/news/201201/rs-426x288/minister-richard-bruton-td-launch-of-dublin-city-of-science-2012.jpgToday Dublin formally launched as European City of Science for 2012. In July, the city will host the Euroscience Open Forum, attracting scientists from all over the globe. Ireland’s rich scientific landscape will also be opened up to the public as interactive events will be happening all over the island during the year.

Dublin Lord Mayor Andrew Montague officially designated Dublin as European City of Science this morning at the Convention Centre Dublin.

Prof Patrick Cunningham, chief scientific adviser to the Government, was one of the key people who led the bid to secure Dublin’s tenure as City of Science. It was in Strasburg in France in 2008 that Dublin was announced as the city to host the 2012 Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF), edging ahead of Vienna.

Every two years, a European city holds the City of Science tenure. Turin was City of Science in 2010, while Barcelona held the mantle in 2008.

So what will City of Science behold?

The highlight of the year will be ESOF 2012 in July, when the world’s scientific community will be descending upon Dublin. In addition, ESOF will host the Europe – US Symposium on the Atlantic Ocean as a shared resource.

There will also be more than 160 science-related events happening all over Ireland throughout the year.

The setting itself was a colourful display this morning to showcase how the ‘year of science celebration’ will be all about an intersection between science and the arts. Theatre artists from Rough Magic Theatre Company gave an entertaining performance, while a harpist and a violinist from the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra also played two pieces. Dublin footballer Stephen Cluxton, who is also a science teacher, brought along some of his students to the event, while children from Gardiner Street Primary School checked out some of the interactive exhibits.

Compéring the event, Irish comedian Dara O’Briain, who also has a degree in maths and theoretical physics, spoke about how Ireland was renowned for its rich artistic and literary heritage, but he said this year would be a great opportunity to show the links that exist between the arts and the sciences and to open up Ireland’s scientific strengths to the public.

Together with Prof Brian Cox, O’Briain has just hosted the Stargazing series on BBC, a programme that was lapped up by the public. “Three million people followed the show for the three series. There’s a massive audience for this type of stuff,” said O’Briain.