The Odyssey Trust has announced the return of Science and Discovery Month—a celebration of innovation, creativity, and learning—set to take place throughout November at W5 and W5 LIFE.

Returning for its eighth year, the month-long programme features a packed schedule of hands-on workshops, shows, and events designed to highlight innovation and discovery in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

Victoria Denoon, Head of W5, said the month is "a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and community." She added: "It's a chance for young people to engage in hands-on experiences that reveal how STEM shapes the world around us — from the technology we use to the sports we love."

The initiative is supported by a range of industry partners, including the Association of Science and Discovery Centres, The King's Trust, The Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland.

The programming throughout November will cover an array of topics highly relevant to Northern Ireland's economy, including construction, sustainability, coding, space exploration, and cybersecurity. The month-long series of events will culminate with 'The Big STEM Day'. This event will see W5 open its doors to hundreds of local schoolchildren, providing free access to over 250 hands-on exhibits before they head to The SSE Arena, Belfast, for the opening game of the Friendship Four ice hockey tournament.

Steve Thornton, Sports Director at The Odyssey Trust, commented that education and engagement are central to the Trust's work: "By using the excitement of the Friendship Four to spark interest in STEM, we're giving young people the chance to develop life skills that go far beyond the classroom and showing them that learning can be fun, relevant, and accessible to everyone."

The Friendship Four is the first and only NCAA Division I ice hockey tournament to take place outside of North America. The 2025 tournament will see the Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart University, Miami University, and Union College compete over Thanksgiving weekend, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November, promoting education, cultural exchange, and community engagement.

For more information about the Science and Discovery Month and to discover the full programme of events.