Armagh Observatory Opens Doors to Biomedical Science Learning Lab in STEM Outreach Weekend
The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium will host the Institute of Biomedical Science's mobile Learning Lab on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, offering free hands-on science experiences to the public and helping to inspire the next generation of healthcare scientists across Northern Ireland.
Background
The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, one of Northern Ireland's most distinctive scientific institutions, has a long tradition of public engagement that extends well beyond its core astronomical mission. Established in 1790, the Observatory is one of the oldest scientific institutions in Ireland and has in recent decades expanded its public-facing work through the Planetarium, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually from across the island of Ireland and beyond. The institution's willingness to host partner organisations reflects a broader commitment to science communication and community engagement.
The Institute of Biomedical Science is the professional body for biomedical scientists in the United Kingdom, representing more than 20,000 members who work in hospital laboratories analysing patient samples to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Biomedical scientists are among the least visible members of the healthcare workforce — their work happens behind the scenes in pathology laboratories — yet they are involved in the vast majority of clinical decisions made in hospitals every day. The Learning Lab initiative was developed to address that invisibility and to encourage young people to consider careers in the biomedical sciences.
The collaboration between the Institute and the Armagh Observatory was facilitated by Karen Goodall, a STEM Ambassador from the Health and Social Care Northern Ireland network, who identified the Planetarium as an ideal venue for the outreach vehicle. The event is supported by the STEM Ambassador Programme, managed by STEM Learning and funded by UK Research and Innovation.
Key Developments
The Learning Lab will operate from 10am to 5pm on both days, with admission included free of charge as part of the general Planetarium visitor experience. No prior booking is required. The Lab features a range of interactive resources designed to bring the world of biomedical science to life for visitors of all ages. Highlights include the SuperLab VR Experience, a virtual reality simulation set inside a futuristic space laboratory that allows participants to experience the environment of a modern diagnostic lab; demonstrations of micropipetting and microscopy using pre-prepared slides; and DNA bead stringing activities suitable for younger visitors.
The event will be staffed by a team of STEM Ambassadors working in healthcare and biomedical fields, alongside members of the Institute of Biomedical Science, who will be on hand to answer questions about career pathways and the day-to-day realities of working in a hospital laboratory. The Institute has emphasised that biomedical science offers a wide range of career options, from clinical biochemistry and haematology to microbiology and transfusion science, and that the profession is actively recruiting across Northern Ireland's five health trusts.
Why It Matters
Northern Ireland faces a significant and well-documented shortage of healthcare scientists, including biomedical scientists, across its health and social care system. The five trusts — Belfast, South Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern — have all reported recruitment difficulties in laboratory services in recent years, a problem exacerbated by an ageing workforce and competition from the private sector. Initiatives that introduce young people to the profession at an early age are therefore not merely feel-good outreach exercises; they are a practical response to a workforce planning challenge that will shape the quality of healthcare in Northern Ireland for decades to come.
The choice of Armagh as a venue is also significant. The city and its surrounding area in Co. Armagh are not always well-served by major science outreach events, which tend to cluster in Belfast. Bringing the Learning Lab to the Observatory ensures that young people in the mid-Ulster and border regions have access to the same quality of engagement as their counterparts in the capital. The Observatory's existing reputation as a science destination means that families who might not otherwise engage with a healthcare careers event are likely to encounter the Learning Lab as part of a broader day out.
Local Impact
For schools and families in Co. Armagh, Co. Tyrone, and the surrounding area, the Learning Lab weekend offers a rare opportunity to engage with working healthcare scientists in an informal, accessible setting. Teachers have been encouraged to bring school groups, and the Institute has indicated that it will provide follow-up resources for classrooms. The event is expected to draw visitors from across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area, which covers Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Newry, Mourne, and Down. Local secondary schools with science sixth-form programmes have been specifically targeted in the event's promotional outreach.
What's Next
The Institute of Biomedical Science plans to continue its Learning Lab tour across Northern Ireland and the wider United Kingdom following the Armagh event. The organisation is in discussions with other venues about future stops, with a particular focus on areas with lower rates of progression to healthcare science degree programmes. The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has indicated its willingness to host further partner events of this kind, and is exploring a broader STEM outreach calendar for 2027 in partnership with the Education Authority Northern Ireland.
