Robert Boyle Summer School 2026

The Summer School is a weekend event for adults interested in exploring the role of science in our culture. A festival not a School ; Science but not for Scientists. We explore where ideas come from and how they impact and affect how we see the world today. It brings together leading thinkers across various fields history, philosophy, science and arts to address the theme of 'Mind and Matter'

Programme.

Thursday Evening: Waterford City Hall

7 pm Our fascination with true crime and serial killers

Dr Lorraine Bowman Grieve and Dr Jennifer O’Mahoney SETU

Friday: Waterford City Hall

Morning Session

10:30 am Welcome and Introduction

Eoin Gill, Calmast SETU

11:30 am Robert Boyle's Theory of Mind

Prof Bill Eaton, Georgia Southern University

12:30 - 2pm Lunch*

Afternoon Session

2 pm Mind, Matter and Malfunction - What Epilepsy Reveals About Consciousness, Neural Dynamics, and the Fragility of the Self

Prof Mark O Cunningham, TCD

3 pm Mind in Society: Joyce, Vygotsky, and Inner Speech

Prof Luke Gibbons Maynooth University (emeritus)

Early Evening Session Medieval Museum Vaults

6-8 pm Poetry and the Mind

Waterford Arts Officer Margaret Organ in conversation with Jackie Gorman, Clodagh Beresford Dunne and Dr Christa de Brún

Dinner*

Saturday: Lismore

(coach included in 3-day tickets and day ticket)

Lismore Heritage Centre

Morning Session

11 am The Mind in a World of Social Media and AI

Dr Emma Farrell, Maynooth University

12 pm Critical Thinking

12:45 - 2:15 pm Lunch*

Afternoon Session

2:15 pm The Ageing Mind

Regius Prof Rose Anne Kenny

3:15 pm Panel Discussion

5 pm Guided Tour of Lismore Castle Upper Gardens

Evening Event

6 pm Garden Party

Lismore Castle Gardens

Sunday: Waterford

12 pm Guided Tour of Waterford Gallery of Art.

*Not included in registration fees. Participants are free to make their own arrangements

The programme may be subject to change.

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Full programme and more information about our guest speakers is available on our website robertboyle.ie or social media. Keep an eye on them!

See below some pictures from the Robert Boyle Summer School 2024 and 2025. More pictures available on robertboyle.ie/gallery/

Info: Welcome to 14th Robert Boyle Summer School and and Introducing the Theme

Info: Robert Boyle Summer school - Day 2 - in Lismore. Coach included in the 3-days or all day tickets.

Info: Cultural event - in Waterford. End at lunch time. Priority given to the 3-days subscription.

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Host or Publisher Robert Boyle Summer & Winter Schools