Category: STEM

Launch of Inaugural STEM South West Awards 2024

Leaders of STEM in Industry, Education and the Community are to be recognised by the STEM South West Awards 2024. The Awards were launched by European Commissioner nominee Michael McGrath TD, Bob Savage, CIO (EMEA) & Cork Site Lead, Dell Technologies, and Mary Good, Chair STEM South West  & Managing Director of Advanced Medical Services, at Cork County Hall.

Companies leading the 75,000+ people working in the South West’s thriving STEM sectors are invited to showcase their various programmes and initiatives in place to actively support the future talent pipeline and STEM growth strategy in the region.

The inaugural Awards will recognise companies and education providers who are leading the charge for the region’s STEM community, and safeguarding the economic and employment future for the STEM industry in the South West.

STEM South West, representing over 50 companies working within the STEM sector in the South West region, who collectively employ thousands of people, say online entries will remain open until September 20th. Winners will be decided by an independent judging panel, led by Bob Savage, and will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on November 21st.

There are 3 main categories:

  • STEM in Industry:  Company of the Year
    – Small / Startup (up to 50 Employees)
    – Small to Medium (50 – 249 Employees)
    – Large Categories (250+ Employees))
  • STEM in Education:  Educational Initiative of the Year
    (Primary, Secondary, and Third Level)
  • STEM in the Community:   Transition Year (TY) Challenge of the Year

Launching the Awards, Minister McGrath,

“STEM plays such an important role in the economy of our region, which is home to a wide range of industries, from pharma and life sciences, to engineering and technology. STEM South West brings together a wide variety of stakeholders including universities, local government, both SME and multinational employers, and state agencies to facilitate skills training. There are now more than 250k people enrolled in publicly funded higher education colleges in Ireland. These prestigious awards provide us with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the growth of STEM in the region.”

Speaking at the launch Mary Good, Chairperson of STEM South West,

“We are calling on companies, schools and educational institutes that are directly engaged in supporting the development of STEM subject study and career development to enter. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) forecasts that 21,000 additional jobs will be created by 2027.To support Ireland’s important and fast-growing Biopharma sector as just one example of a sector set to grow in future years, nurturing and developing a robust talent STEM pipeline is fundamental to future economic performance.”

STEM South West aims to provide a competitive, innovative, and resilient enterprise base that will facilitate STEM skills training, cross-regional collaboration between industry, government, and academia, and increase employment and economic opportunities throughout the STEM sector in the South West region.​

With Cork set to become the fastest-growing region under the Project 2040 plan, STEM South West say the region (Cork and Kerry) is a place where opportunity meets talent, particularly in STEM.

Bob Savage, Chair of the Judging Panel for the STEM South West Awards noted,

“Cork & the greater South West region now employs over 75,000 people in STEM businesses. It is an integral part of our local economy and has consistently grown over the past 40 years to become the region’s largest employer.  We must continue to develop and recognise initiatives that support the growth of this crucial industry sector for the future.” 

The Awards

The “STEM Company of the Year” award celebrates organisations leading the way in creating a proactive, inclusive and supportive environment for STEM, both within their own company and through outreach initiatives. This allows for entrants to outline the organisation’s corporate culture, development opportunities, and commitment to supporting, upskilling, and empowering STEM professionals. Any specific initiatives developed to encourage and inspire the next generation to consider future studies and career choices in the STEM sector will be of particular interest this year.

Attracting and retaining diverse and talented individuals is essential for driving innovation and safeguarding the future success of STEM expertise in the Southwest. Nurturing development opportunities for the next generation is also essential.

The “STEM in Education” award celebrates educational institutes, departments and classroom-led initiatives (primary, secondary and third level) that show the way toward creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment for STEM. Applications are also welcome from individual contributors, such as educators, lecturers, teachers, and career guidance professionals.

Educational initiatives in this category should demonstrate a commitment to inspiring, supporting, and empowering the next generation to engage in STEM-related topics. Entries can also demonstrate an innovative approach and robust learning opportunities for students.

The “TY Challenge of the Year” award celebrates a STEM in Transition Year (TY) initiative that created an excellent development and learning opportunity, inspiring the next generation, and resulting in the empowerment and upskilling of those who participated.

Nominations for STEM South West awards are now open at https://stemsouthwest.ie/awards/ and STEM South West are encouraging companies, education providers and students to get involved in this year’s Awards.

Teen-Turn launch 2024 summer work experience programme

Teen-Turn,  an EU wide digital impact organisation of the year, connects girls from underrepresented communities with women who are STEM role models at Ireland’s leading companies for summer work placements called “Teenturnships” in order to tackle the deficit of young women in STEM.

This year, Teen-Turn’s program commenced with 81 girls being introduced to their mentors. These mentors are accomplished women who are STEM professionals, including engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity and AI specialists, and senior managers from prominent companies such as Dell, BNY Mellon, Hostelworld, BD, Aptiv, Bearing Point, and Trane Technologies Thermoking.

The participating girls, from DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), rural, and underserved schools across Ireland, will engage in a two-week immersive experience in August. During this period, they will work on STEM projects under the guidance of their women-in-STEM mentors, gaining firsthand experience.

Teen-Turn believes that more girls, from areas where third level education is uncommon, exploring and gaining an interest in STEM will lead to more women earning STEM qualifications, therefore meeting a demand for skills that is outpacing supply.

Throughout the program, participants will learn from their mentors and engage in various activities each workday. Additionally, they will document and share their experiences through blogging, providing insights into their journey and the impact of the program.

5 things to know ahead of Cork Carnival of Science this weekend!

There are mere days to go until Ireland’s largest outdoor science engagement event, Cork Carnival of Science gets underway at Fitzgerald Park from June 8th to 9th.  This unmissable FREE family science fun weekend is guaranteed to get a great ‘reaction’ with previous years proving the hypothesis that learning and fun really do go hand in hand!

Supported by Cork City Council and Science Foundation Ireland and organised by Cork City Council’s Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks Experience, the Cork Carnival of Science is  hugely impressive and a high quality 2 day celebration of all things Science, Technology Engineering, and Maths that will see Fitzgerald Park transformed into a pop up science super park this coming weekend!

Organisers are calling on families to vote with their feet and head to Fitzgerald Park on Saturday or Sunday (or both!) where they will get to explore, investigate, experiment, and discover the wonders of science in a completely fun fuelled and interactive way…. and it’s all free!

Here are 5 things to know ahead of the weekend!

  1. Circus Tent Showstoppers!

Over the 2 days there will be as many as  26 live seated science shows in Circus Top and Stretch Tents, throughout the scenic park. Topping the bill are, of course, the live science shows performed by stars of the science education and entertainment who the kids will recognise from TV shows and Youtube. These seated shows draw large crowds and offer regular performances throughout the day, with no need to book in advance – just line up before the next performance! This year’s headliners include Airforce’ by Simply Science physicists Dr. Stephen Davitt and Phil Smyth from RTÉ’s Home School Hub, ‘The Crazy Weather Show’ by Science 2 Life’s wonderfully dramatic Scientific Sue, ‘Now that’s what I call Science’ by W5 from Belfast, ‘Its Only Water’ by Science Made Simple,  ‘Airheads’ by Thunder Bolts & Lightning and ‘The Circus Science Show’ by Inspirational Science, so plenty there to blow your mind!

  1. Putting Nature and the Environment under the Microscope!

This year’s theme will focus on climate and the natural world from a scientific point of view. Poppy from ‘Bee-ology’ will create a buzz with a circus-science that juggles bee and insect stories and facts.  A branch of the Irish Tree Network will take you on a remarkable journey through the world of plants, including their uses and benefits. The crew from the Marine Institute will float their Explorers Education Programme encouraging greater understanding of the marine world and recruiting young people to become ocean champions! Cork’s very own Lifetime Lab will be on hand to demonstrate the use of microscopes to get up and close with mini beasties from our rivers and the Animal Roadshow will bring along their petting zoo featuring lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, frogs and more.

  1. Eco Friendliness

Aiming to make the festival as sustainable and low impact as possible the organisers have taken a number of steps. These include providing free drinking water, so all you need to do is bring along a reusable bottle or keep cup to quench your thirst! All the food stalls have been vetted for sustainable food practices and are all local operators including; Bo burgers and steaks, Bad Boys BBQ, Dinky Donuts, Sultan Delight, Munchies, Bubble Waffle House, O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, Glanmire Ices, Keith’s Cones, Pizza base, Candy Rock Lane, The Crepe Man.  There will be a cycle valet service available on the day to encourage people to cycle to the event, they can then park up their bikes securely at bike stands within the park at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion which will be supervised for the duration of the event. The festival has been reusing directional and branded signage since 2019 so that is certainly sustainability in practice!

  1. Activities and Accessibility!

Popular attractions on a gigantic scale will feature again this year, in the form of the Stardome Giant Inflatable Planetarium brought along by Blackrock Castle Observatory and the cheeky 40ft walkthrough inflatable model of the human digestive system from APC Microbiome Ireland. In fact there are over 45 different science based activities and demonstrations to discover throughout the scenic park, walkabout scientific performers, interactive stands, an active sports zone, microscopic wonders, lego mania, remote controlled robots, DNA investigations,  and discoveries big and small. Accessibility is a key focus to ensure enjoyment for all, and in consultation with the Deaf Community in Cork, provision will again be made to ensure sign language interpretation is available at live show performances and for ad hoc requests. The park itself is fully wheelchair accessible. They will also have a designated quiet zone in the area near the Sky Garden (where the reflective silver spheres are) which might be useful for young children or those with noise sensitivities.

  1. Navigate the Science Fun with Carnival Map and Brochure!

A top tip is to make sure to scan the QR Code for the festival brochure on arrival, this includes a colourful map of Fitzgerald’s Park with all the festival attractions laid out alongside the key what, where and when details of shows, workshops, and demonstrations to check out on both days. This will allow you to plan your route to take it all in, or hone in on particular areas of interest! Guiding you on your scientific adventure will be themed routes including ‘Exploration Avenue’, ‘Innovation Way’ and ‘Discovery Drive’ which will map out where rows of workshops and interactive experiences are located within the park. Here hands-on workshops will offer the chance to try out a broad variety of science-based tasks.

For more information see www.corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or stay tuned to social media updates from @corkcitycouncilofficial. #CorkCarnivalofScience #BelieveInScience

Cork Carnival of Science which will see Fitzgerald Park transformed into a STEM playground from 8th-9th June

There’s only one week to go until Ireland’s largest outdoor science engagement event, Cork Carnival of Science, pops up at Fitzgerald Park from 8th – 9th June.  Don’t miss out on this STEMTASTIC FREE family science fun weekend!

Supported by Cork City Council and Science Foundation Ireland and organised by Cork City Council’s Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks Experience,  the hugely impressive and high quality 2 day STEM engagement event will see Fitzgerald Park transformed into a science super park for one weekend only!

Curious kids and fun-loving families are  invited to explore, investigate, experiment, and discover the wonders of science, which will delve into climate and the natural world from a scientific point of view.

Almost 25,000 people attend each year and this year’s budding scientists are invited to unlock nature’s secrets and explore more than 45 different STEM based activities.  There will be 26 live seated science shows in Circus Top and Stretch Tents, demonstrations throughout the scenic park, walkabout scientific performers, the animal roadshow, interactive stands, an active zone, microscopic wonders, lego mania, remote controlled robots, DNA investigations,  and discoveries big and small along the way – all for free.

Topping the bill are, of course, the live science shows performed by stars of the science education and entertainment realm. These seated shows  draw large crowds and offer regular performances throughout the day.  This year’s headliners include Airforce’ by Simply Science physicists Dr. Stephen Davitt and Phil Smyth from RTÉ’s Home School Hub, ‘The Crazy Weather Show’ by Science 2 Life’s wonderfully dramatic Scientific Sue, ‘Now that’s what I call Science’ by W5 from Belfast ‘Its Only Water’ by Science Made Simple,  ‘Airheads’ by Thunder Bolts & Lightning and ‘The Circus Science Show’ by Inspirational Science.

New activities on the programme for 2024 include ‘Bee-ology’ a circus-science performance that juggles bee and insect stories and facts.  There’s also ‘OurKidsCode’ offering parents of primary school aged children  taster coding club workshops which they hope will inspire a network of coding clubs around the country.   UCC will be on hand to showcase their Free Hydro Cells research project which aims to create energy from sustainable materials. Also new on Discovery Drive will be the Curiosity Cube where kids can join the team from Merck and investigate the life cycle of a t-shirt in a fun and hands-on way.

Also new is the activity from INSIGHT  which presents “Discover the Enchanted Bog-‘ and brings an ancient discovery in an Irish bog to life through  Science and Creative Writing.

‘Saérlaith’ is the name given to  skeleton was found deep in a bog in Roscommon by turfcutters in 2005 and carbon dated to the 7th century (14 hundred years ago). Join INSIGHT at Discovery Drive between 11am and 5pm as Saérlaith tells stories about her bog and all its enchantments. Learn about miraculous mosses and their carbon capture, snigger with the snipe as you discover how these birds make their extraordinary sounds, get curious with CO2 as you watch it being taken up by sphagnum moss and help Saérlaith put her shattered cloak back together as we restore the bog! Practical Workshops led by Professor Jools Gilson & sound artist Benjamin Burns happen twice a day following the enchanted bog tent activities. The timings for these are 12.00 – 12.45 Letters to Saérlaith: Creative Writing & Movement [Ages 6 – 12] and 14.30 – 15.00 Sounds for Saérlaith: Sound Workshop [Ages 5 – 10]. Note that places are limited and are assigned on a first come first served – max. 10 per workshop. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

This year’s theme will put nature under the microscope with a number of activities. The Irish Tree Network will take you on a remarkable journey through the world of plants where you will learn about plants as sources of oxygen, food, fuel and medicine, habitats, mitigators in climate change and importance in health and wellbeing.  The Marine Institute will bring their Explorers Education Programme which aims to encourage greater understanding of the marine world and encourage more young people to become ocean champions in Ireland. Cork’s very own Lifetime Lab will be on hand to demonstrate the use of microscopes to get up and close with mini beasties from our rivers and the Animal Roadshow will bring along their petting zoo featuring lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, frogs and more.

Large scale favourites making a welcome return include the Stardome Giant Inflatable Planetarium from Blackrock Castle Observatory and the  40ft walkthrough inflatable model of the human digestive system from APC Microbiome Ireland, while the Active Zone will feature a host of ‘science of sport’ activities facilitated by Transport for Ireland, Cork City Sports Partnership, IRFU and FAI.

Guiding you on your scientific adventure will be themed routes including ‘Exploration Avenue’, ‘Innovation Way’ and ‘Discovery Drive’ which will map out where rows of workshops and interactive experiences are located within the park. Here hands-on workshops will offer the chance to try out a broad variety of science-based tasks.

Families wishing to make a day of it will delight in the opportunity to bring a leave no trace picnic or choose from the 12 food trucks  located near the Rose Garden section of the park, which will have plenty of picnic tables and space to lay a picnic blanket. All the food operators are Cork based with the lineup including: Bo burgers and steaks, Bad Boys BBQ, Dinky Donuts, Sultan Delight, Munchies, Bubble Waffle House, O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, Glanmire Ices, Keith’s Cones, Pizza base, Candy Rock Lane, The Crepe Man. On Sunday at 12.30 a Youth Orchestra will perform near the picnic area, adding some extra ambiance.

Accessibility is a key focus to ensure enjoyment for all, and in consultation with the Deaf Community in Cork, provision will again be made by Cork Carnival of Science to ensure sign language interpretation is available at live show performances and for ad hoc requests. They will also have a designated quiet zone in the area near the Sky Garden (where the reflective silver spheres are) which might be useful for young children or those with noise sensitivities.

Make sure to scan the QR Code for the festival brochure on arrival, this includes a colourful map of Fitzgerald’s Park with all the festival attractions laid out alongside the key what, where and when details of shows, workshops, and demonstrations to check out throughout the weekend.

Igniting Curiosity: Save the Date for Cork’s Two-Day STEM Extravaganza

Cork Carnival of Science promises a fascinating weekend of discovery where families can unearth the magic of science in the great outdoors. This highly anticipated FREE two-day free STEM festival will return from the 8th-9th of June 2024 in Fitzgerald Park, thanks to funding provided by Science Foundation Ireland and Cork City Council.  The well-loved oasis of green space within the city will be transformed overnight into a 12-acre science super park that has to be seen to be believed!

More than 75,000 people have previously attended the Cork Carnival of Science confirming its position as Ireland’s biggest outdoor STEM engagement event!  This year budding scientists are invited to unlock nature’s secrets with more nature based and environmental science than ever before! Your mission (if you choose to accept it!)  is to explore, investigate, experiment, discover the wonders of science… and have fun!

This year’s Carnival of Science will be even more of a ‘blast’ with 45 different STEM based activities, 26 live seated science shows in Circus Top and Stretch Tents, demonstrations throughout the scenic park, walkabout scientific performers, the animal roadshow, interactive stands, an active zone, microscopic wonders, and discoveries big and small along the way – all for free.  New activities this year include ‘Bee-ology’ circus science performance that juggles bee and insect stories and facts; there’s also ‘OurKidsCode’ offering parents of primary school aged children’s taster coding club workshops which they hope will inspire a network of coding clubs around the country; while UCC will be on hand to showcase their Free Hydro Cells research project which aims to create energy from sustainable materials.

Adding to the long menu of science engagement opportunities will be street cuisine, picnic benches, toilet facilities, a gigantic playground, extensive gardens, the Cork Public Museum and Café all on site it truly makes for the ultimate family day out!

The programme of events will be unveiled soon but for now, families are invited to save the date for this unmissable stem-tastic weekend.

Cork Carnival of Science is supported by Cork City Council and Science Foundation Ireland and organised by the Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy welcomed the return of Cork Carnival of Science for June 2024 saying “Cork City Council are delighted to continue our support for the Cork Carnival of Science festival which is a superb day out for all to enjoy in the scenic and historic surrounds of Fitzgerald Park. This festival aligns with our goals of supporting STEM engagement from a young age, which is essential in keeping Cork City as a leader in scientific endeavors into the future, be it as a place to study, do research, or operate a business. I welcome the inclusion of environmental themes in this year’s programme and I hope everyone will come out and enjoy this free day out.”

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society in Science Foundation Ireland, commented: “SFI is delighted to continue our support for the Cork Carnival of Science festival which is a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with all types of science from physics to chemistry, biology and more. If you know a curious young person who loves animals, nature, outer-space, dinosaurs or magic, there will be something of interest at this event to bring science to life before their eyes and hopefully inspire some future scientists.”

Ellen Murphy, Executive Scientist at Cork City Council, said, “We’re very proud to have Ireland’s largest STEM engagement event right here in Cork, and to facilitate a greater understanding and love of science with people young and old.  This year’s event will also emphasise the wonders of the natural world and delve into lots of fascinating life science content in addition to chemistry, physics, engineering, and math’s.”

Accessibility is a key focus to ensure enjoyment for all, and in consultation with the Deaf Community in Cork, provision will again be made by Cork Carnival of Science to ensure sign language interpretation is available at live show performances and for ad hoc requests. They will also have a designated quiet zone in the area near the Sky Garden (where the reflective silver spheres are) which might be useful for young children or those with noise sensitivities.

For more details see corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or stay tuned to social media updates from @corkcitycouncilofficial. #BelieveInScience