My favorite stories make the impossible probable (fantasy) or the improbable possible (science) and I love exploring the shadowlands between these two.
I am a Belgian storyteller resident in Ireland and proud to have been called an honorary Corkonian teller, holding my own amidst the thriving Irish storytelling scene. I make up stuff as a scientist, a storyteller and a writer, any combination of which sets my creative juices flowing. I am addicted to great stories and in dire need of extra lives.
Bio
My stories illustrate the general scientific method, the life of a scientist and the wonder of scientific discovery using adaptations of traditional folk tales. Science is everywhere, including at the heart of great stories.
I am a professor at the School of Computer Science and IT at UCC, Cork, Ireland and a Fulbright Scholar (Stanford research stay 2019). My scientific area spans computer science and mathematics (PhD, Carnegie Mellon University, US). My research focuses on capturing the scientific patterns that underpin algorithm design. Science, like music, is all about patterns. The aim of my stories is not to teach science but to foster understanding of the life of a scientist and of the scientific journey and the joy of scientific discovery. My science website is available on LinkedIn.
The following is an overview of my storytelling performances in Ireland which include a Cape Clear International Storytelling Emerging Concert performance and a European Science Open Forum show brought at Dublin's National Museum, as well as performances in Paris and the UK (Hebden Bridge).
My stories illustrate the general scientific method, the life of a scientist and the wonder of scientific discovery using adaptations of traditional folk tales. Science is everywhere, including at the heart of great stories.
I am a professor at the School of Computer Science and IT at UCC, Cork, Ireland and a Fulbright Scholar (Stanford research stay 2019). My scientific area spans computer science and mathematics (PhD, Carnegie Mellon University, US). My research focuses on capturing the scientific patterns that underpin algorithm design. Science, like music, is all about patterns. The aim of my stories is not to teach science but to foster understanding of the life of a scientist and of the scientific journey and the joy of scientific discovery. My science website is available on LinkedIn.
The following is an overview of my storytelling performances in Ireland which include a Cape Clear International Storytelling Emerging Concert performance and a European Science Open Forum show brought at Dublin's National Museum, as well as performances in Paris and the UK (Hebden Bridge).
- Cork Harbour Festival, Fri 3 - Mon 13 June 2022, The Gab, Sunday June 12, stories about rivers and oceans.
- The Gab, March Mixtape, O'Mahony's pub. Watergrasshill, 2022.
- The Gab, September Mixtape, O'Mahony's pub,, Watergrasshill, Sep 7 2021
- Moth and Butterfly, Galway, Claddagh Cottage and Arts Centre, Upper Fairhill, Claddagh, Galway, Feb 19, 2020, Guest teller, Two stories on the night.
- The Gab: Feb'20 Mixtape, Maureen's Pub, Cork, Feb 4, 2020
- Centre 72 performance, Paris (Bois-Colombes), Sunday March 17, 2019, St. Patrick's Day, Irish event, featured storyteller.
- Zombie Unicorns (based on a short story by Laura Pearlman), the Gab, Crawford & Co, Cork, October 25, 2018.
- Regular Gab performances and also Yarnspinners in Cork. Check out their schedules. Samples of past performances below.
- The ruthless King who loved riddles, at the Gab, Artist's house in Cobh, October 20, 2018.
- “Tales from the Blender” at the Dublin Yarn Spinners, February 8, 2018.
- “Tales from the Blender” at the Shaggy Dog Storytellers Club, Hebden Bridge, UK, January 26, 2018
- “Tales from the Blender” at The Gab, Alpha Sud, Blarney, charity event for Cape Clear Trust, Dec 5, 2017
- The Gab, Blarney, guest performances (2016 - 2017)
- “What’s the Story”, Roundy Pub, Cork, guest performances (2015)
- Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival, Emerging Storytellers Concert (2013)
- ESOF, European Science Open Forum Project, Seanchai (storytellers) bringing science to kids (2012).
- Listowel Writers’ Week International Storytelling Competition Finalist (2011)
- Youghal’s libary and Cork’s Yarnspinner’s club
- Cape Clear's international storytelling workshops by Daniel Morden, Joel ben Izzy, Carol Russell, Jan Blake, Christine McMahon and Michael Parent, and workshop by Pat Speight.
- Benefitted from Ireland’s vibrant storytelling scene, influenced by international storytellers Pat Speight and Liz Weir.
- Former member of Pittsburgh's storytellers club.
- Committee member: Cape Clear International Storytelling Workshop (Sept 2016 - Sept 2018)
- Committtee member: Storytellers of Ireland (2017 - 2019)
- European Science Open Forum Project, 2012, science-storytelling shows for children aged 7 - 11 in Dublin's National Museum and UCC's Aula Max, four storytellers bringing the story "Why? Cause that's the way it is!" followed by science experiments, including ants on stilt and balancing demo by circus performer on unicycle. Storytellers: Nina Tannis, Fiona Dowling, Gerry Clancy, Cliona O'Carroll, Michel Schellekens, story written by M. Schellekens.