![](https://www.siliconrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/201312/hadfield-chris-718x523.jpg)
Col Chris Hadfield. Image via NASA
Col Chris Hadfield, who captured the public’s imagination by sharing on social media photos of Earth taken from the International Space Station (ISS), is to drop in on the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin next month.
The former commander of the ISS is to make a special appearance in the Main Hall at the RDS on 11 January to sign copies of his new book, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.
The Canadian retired astronaut blasted off from Kazakhstan in December 2012 for a five-month mission aboard the ISS, where he carried out scientific experiments, as well as snapped photos of the world below – including shots of Ireland – and shared them with his followers on Facebook and Twitter.
Just prior to his return to Earth in May, he filmed and shared a rendition of the song Space Oddity by David Bowie, in addition to helping educate the public about life in space throughout his time aboard the orbiting lab.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition will be open to the public from 9-11 January. Tickets are available at the door, costing €6 for students, €12 for adults and €25 for a family pass.
The exhibition will feature some 550 student projects on display, as well as live shows and workshops by coding club CoderDojo.