Science Week Event Programme
Introductory Tour
Step into Empathy Machine and see how art and science collide. These short introductory tours unpack Maija Tammi’s striking installation – a darkly poetic exploration of empathy, technology, and the human condition.
Free | Booking recommended. Walk-ups welcome.
Monday 9 November
1.00pm, 1:30pm & 2.00pm
Official Exhibition Launch
Celebrate the opening of Empathy Machine — the first Irish showing of Maija Tammi’s extraordinary work.
Tuesday 11 November
6:00pm
Keynote Talk:
The Promises and Perils of Empathy
Psychologist Professor Marius Vollberg (University of Zurich) challenges common views on compassion and emotional connection in this sharp, provocative talk. Chaired by Professor Mark Cunningham (TCD), the in-person event will be held at The Ark, accessible via Eustace Street, Temple Bar.
Wednesday 12 November
1:10pm
Introductory Tour
Introductory tours through Empathy Machine, where Maija Tammi’s storytelling and science-driven imagination come alive. Expect curiosity, not conclusions. Free | Booking recommended.
Walk-ups welcome.
Weds 12 November
1.00pm, 1.30pm & 2.00pm
Quiet Hour / Autism-Friendly Viewing
A slow, gentle way to experience Empathy Machine. Space to move at your own pace.
Reduced noise/light session for visitors with sensory processing differences
- 11.00am – 1.00pm Friday 14 Nov
- 11.00am – 1.00pm Saturday 15 Nov
- 3.00pm – 5.00pm Sunday 16 Nov
Family Workshop
The Very Hungry... Chameleon
Sunday 16 November
Bring a burst of colour to science in this free kids workshop inspired by the playful world of Maija Tammi’s The Empathy Machine. Expect bold ideas, bright materials, and plenty of imagination.
This session is repeated at 12.30PM & 1.30PM
Exhibition Highlights
Women’s Group Tour & Discussion
Visit by Nepantla Collective & community groups.
A special introductory tour and group conversation with the Nepantla Collective and local women’s groups. Together, we’ll explore empathy, identity, and solidarity through Maija Tammi’s lens.
Keynote Talk: “The Promises and Perils of Empathy”
Psychologist Professor Marius Vollberg (University of Zurich) challenges common views on compassion and emotional connection in this sharp, provocative talk. Chaired by Professor Mark Cunningham (TCD), the in-person event will be held at The Ark, accessible via Eustace Street, Temple Bar.
Dr. Vollberg will present “The Promises and Pitfalls of Empathy,” sharing psychological and neuroscientific insights. He’ll examine how empathy, vital for human cooperation, is often selectively applied—more readily toward our own groups than to “others,” as highlighted in the Empathy Machine exhibition.
Presented in partnership with the Finnish Museum of Photography and with support from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Finnish Institute and the Embassy of Finland in Ireland. The presentation is also supported by Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland and is part of the exciting Science Week 2025 programme of events.
Explore Empathy Machine
Life and death, disgust and fascination, beauty and horror. Contrasts like these are central to the spectacular work of the award-winning Finnish artist and researcher Maija Tammi.