“Mary Ward’s Amazing World of Wonder” celebrates Ireland and Offaly’s scientific heritage. The mid-nineteenth century was a time of huge scientific advances and discoveries and the Victorians were expanding their visual imaginations to keep pace with the changing world. This project has extended and combined these visual discoveries, with macro-photography echoing Mary Ward’s microscope work, and combining these images with Zoetrope animation, that had been invented in the 1850’s. The project has drawn inspiration from the Victorian idea of “Science as Performance”, combining old and new technologies, to produce an exciting celebration of the natural heritage of the bog, and the historical and scientific heritage of Mary Ward. This workshop is suitable for secondary school students.
