Welcome to Science City 2015!

This image provided by NASA shows the Japanese Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle In the grasp of the International Space Station's Canadarm2, being relocated from the Harmony node lower port to Harmony's upper port Friday Feb. 18, 2011. A cloud-covered part of Earth and the blackness of space provide the backdrop for the scene. (AP photo/NASA)

That’s the plan anyway.

‘Science City 2015’ has grown out of the ‘Legacy Promise’ to make Londonderry a focus of ‘Creativity and Learning’ next year.

It appears this has now crystallised as a ‘Year of Science’ in some official correspondence.

This may manifest itself as early as mid-February - early March during the inaugural Northern Ireland Science Festival.

According to provisional Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) briefing notes seen by the Sentinel: “The Department is supporting the Northern Ireland Science Festival in February 2015. Yvonne Spicier, Director of the Boston Museum of Science, has agreed to come to Northern Ireland to present a ‘masterclass’ to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) educators during the Festival.

“Yvonne has also agreed in principle to extend the trip to include a presentation at Magee Campus as part of the festival.

“In addition Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has agreed to send a speaker during the festival, with potential links to NASA.

“Although these activities form part of the wider Northern Ireland Science Festival there is scope to include them as Departmental support for the ‘Year of Science’ in Derry if necessary.”

Whether all this can be pulled off remains to be seen.