Isle of Barra & Vatersay Science Festival

07/02/2026

Girls in Science 💙🪐🥽🥼🧬🧫🧪

20/01/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly3dv1dekvo

NatureScot says it is not known why the plants grow in doughnut-shapes on the seabed.

12/01/2026

📣 Job Opportunity 📣

CnaG Officer (part-time) - Isle of Barra

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a part-time youth development worker with Comunn na Gàidhlig.

🌟 Closes today - January 12th 🌟

Follow the link below to apply:

‘Se cothrom a tha seo a dhol an sàs aig teis mheadhan obair leasachaidh na Gàidhlig anns an raon às cudromaiche a th’ann am measg an òigridh – a’ cumail taic is brosnachadh ri luchd-labhairt ùr.

03/01/2026

🌠 Fireballs Are Coming — Tonight over Barra 🌠

Tonight, the sky above the Isle of Barra becomes a front-row seat to one of the most intense meteor showers of the year: the Quadrantids. As Earth moves through debris left behind by an ancient asteroid, up to 100 meteors per hour may streak across the sky.

Thanks to Barra’s exceptionally dark skies, low light pollution, and open Atlantic horizons, this is an ideal place to witness the science in action. Each meteor is a tiny fragment of space rock hitting our atmosphere at incredible speed, briefly ionising the air and producing brilliant flashes — some bright enough to be classed as fireballs.

🔭 Best viewing: Late tonight into the early hours
🌑 Moon: Favourable for dark conditions
📍 Where to look: Away from artificial lights, eyes adjusted to the dark
🧠 Science fact: Quadrantids are fast, dense meteoroids, which is why they often appear brighter than average
Wrap up warm, step outside, and look up — tonight, Barra meets the cosmos.

25/12/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2025 Festival! 💚✨

Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and support made it a truly special celebration of science, sustainability, and community.

As we move a little closer to 2026, we’re already beginning to look ahead. Planning will soon start again for our biannual festival in 2027, and we can’t wait to bring you another inspiring, engaging, and unforgettable experience.

If you’d like to be part of the festival — as a volunteer, exhibitor, educator, performer, or partner — we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch and join us in shaping the next festival together.

Thank you for being part of our journey — we look forward to welcoming you back very soon! 🌍🔬

17/12/2025

🎄✨ A Barra Christmas – made together ✨🎄Castlebay Hall

This festive season brings two lovely community moments together 💙
From handmade, sustainable decorations created with care, to gathering as a community to decorate and light the Christmas tree, it’s all about creativity, togetherness and island spirit.

Families, young people and neighbours are invited to take part, share time, make memories and celebrate Christmas the Barra way – thoughtful, welcoming and community-led ♻️🎅

Let’s create, gather and enjoy a warm, festive moment together ✨
🎄

15/11/2025

Psst… we won the Climate Cup! 🏆🌍💚
A huge thank-you to Climate Hebrides for awarding us a Climate Cup at the OH-COP2 event in Stornoway. As a team of volunteers, this recognition means the world (quite literally!) to us. 🌎✨
We’ll keep doing our bit to tackle climate change—one small, mighty, slightly wind-swept island action at a time! 🌬️💪♻️

Only 3/5 of our team could attend, but we were truly inspired by everyone’s projects, initiatives, and passion.

15/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1ADUQivDPf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/10/2025

💚 Remembering Dame Jane Goodall 🌿

Today we pause to honour the incredible Dame Jane Goodall — a true pioneer, environmentalist, and lifelong advocate for Mother Nature.

Since the 1960s, her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees and dedication to conservation have inspired generations. Her spirit and love for all living beings will continue to guide us toward a greener, kinder world. 🌍💫

31/08/2025

Happy birthday to one of the best people we know! She keeps all things Science Fest running smoothly and helps us oldies navigate all the socials! We dont know what we would do without you! So heres to our wonderful Bex, hope you have an amazing day filled with everything that makes you happy. 🥳

26/08/2025

🎉🎂 Happy Birthday to the amazing Dr. Monica! 🎂🎉

You are truly a super woman 💪✨ — smashing your teacher training, planning a fabulous festival this year, AND being an incredible mum all at the same time. We honestly don’t know how you do it… but it’s pure magic. 🪄💖

We’re so proud of you and everything you’ve achieved. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays and many happy returns! 🥳🎈🎁

11/08/2025

🙏🔬 Huge thanks to 'Off Grid Water' for the brilliant write-up of the Isle of Barra & Vatersay Science Festival 2025! 🌊✨ Your words capture the magic, the learning, and the sheer island ingenuity perfectly. 🏝💡
Here’s to more waves of curiosity and tides of discovery! 🌊📚
➡️

Fun fact: Did you know you can float more easily in the Dead Sea than in any swimming pool? That’s because saltwater is denser, and we explored this and much more at this year’s Isle of Barra & Vatersay Science Festival!