Tag: challenge

70 Irish Girl Guides to compete in FIRST LEGO League Challenge Regional at DCU

Excitement is growing as 14 teams from across Ireland get ready to compete in the Irish Girl Guides FIRST LEGO League Challenge Regional, taking place on Saturday 1st March at Dublin City University (DCU). This event is an important step in the season as teams compete for a chance to make it to the Ireland Final in April.

This year, a talented group of girls from 11 Guide and Senior Branch Units will showcase their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while testing their creativity and teamwork. The competition will include a robot game, a research project, and demonstrations of FIRST® LEGO® League Core Values.

 

The teams competing in the Regional Tournament are:

  • Deep Blue Divas – Mosney Guides (8 team members)
  • Mako Mermaids – Boherbue Guides (7 team members)
  • Merlin Dolphins – St. Nicholas & Merlin Wood Guides (4 team members)
  • The Squashed Squids – Macalla Guides (4 team members)
  • Pretty Pearls – St. Brendan’s Guides (4 team members)
  • The Gills – St. Brendan’s Guides (4 team members)
  • The Guiding I’s – St. Brendan’s Guides (3 team members)
  • The Winnie Fish – St. Brendan’s Guides (4 team members)
  • Awesome Octonauts – Dilse Senior Branch (6 team members)
  • Athlone Senior Branch – (5 team members)
  • The Octonauts – Lucan Guides (4 team members)
  • Coral Creators – North Longford Senior Branch (5 team members)
  • Super SB Sealions – Villierstown Senior Branch (5 team members)
  • Tiddles the Turtle – Lily Guides (7 team members)

 

The FIRST LEGO League Challenge encourages participants to tackle real-world problems through innovation, creativity, and critical thinking. The theme for this year’s SUBMERGED℠ Season is focused on exploring the depths of the ocean and learning how to protect our seas. Teams have been working on building robotic models, coding their designs, and preparing their research projects all about life under the water.

“Through the FIRST LEGO League Challenge, Irish Girl Guides is helping to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders,” said Katie Keogh, Irish Girl Guides LEGO Representative and the Mosney Unit Brownies and Guides Leader, “We are so proud of the hard work, creativity, and dedication these girls have shown. This event is a great chance for them to learn new skills, show off their achievements, and follow their passions in a fun, supportive environment.”

The Regional Tournament is an important part of the journey, as it determines which teams will move on to the Ireland Final. The day will be full of energy, learning, and friendly competition, with parents, Leaders, and volunteers cheering on the teams. The competition will end with a showcase where teams will present their projects and celebrate their hard work.

Supported by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, FIRST® LEGO® League is organised by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in partnership with Irish delivery partner, CreativeHUT. 

Irish Tech Challenge Announces Top Seven Startup Finalists to Scale At Dogpatch Labs

The Irish Tech Challenge, a prestigious competition that identifies and supports high-impact South African start-ups, has announced its top seven finalists for the 2024 edition.
Launched in 2022, the Irish Tech Challenge is a leading partnership between the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) in Pretoria. Dogpatch Labs in Dublin and the Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Johannesburg serve as key implementation partners.
The 2024 edition received more than 350 applicants from South African start-ups, with seven ultimately selected as finalists. Each of these finalists will receive a grant of €10,000 and a funded trip to Ireland at the end of September to participate in an intensive weeklong accelerator and mentorship programme hosted in Dublin by Dogpatch Labs.
“The Irish Tech Challenge is a flagship programme for the Irish Embassy and our partners, providing an important link for South African entrepreneurs to the Irish tech ecosystem. The growth and success of the programme is a testament to the abundance of talent and creative thinking among South African entrepreneurs. This year’s cohort showcases innovation across a number of sectors and will benefit hugely from this experience. We look forward to growing this successful partnership in the coming years,” said Austin Gormley, Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa.
Dogpatch Labs will serve as the base for the South African entrepreneurs while they are in Dublin. While at Dogpatch, the startups will meet with a select group of Irish tech leaders and potential investors who will help them face the challenges of limited resources, infrastructure, networks and staffing while preparing for scalability across Africa, Europe and beyond.
“Our mission at Dogpatch is to create an innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs. The South African entrepreneurs joining us for an immersion week are developing solutions to address critical sustainability challenges. Our own Irish entrepreneurs can learn how we can incorporate this mindset into our own tech ecosystem, while supporting the South Africans in rolling out their technologies to the rest of the world,” said Ashley Shak, Head of Sustainability and Innovation Programmes at Dogpatch Labs.
Hesus Inoma, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Dogpatch Labs, said this year’s cohort is an excellent reflection of the rapidly developing tech sector in South Africa. “This year’s group of finalists are tackling a diverse range of challenges facing countries across the globe and the backgrounds of the Founders reflect the diverse makeup of South Africa, which is truly the country’s strength. We are very excited to be part of their journey.”
The top seven selected startups in this year’s Irish Tech Challenge are:
  • Adbot: founder Michelle Geere makes online advertising easy, effective and accessible to small and medium businesses.
  • Athena and lead founder Jabulani Nyembe help patients to split medical bills into monthly installments.
  • Credipple and founder Kgololo Lekoma connect companies across the world to remote work talent with in-demand skills.
  • Momint and lead founder Ahren Posthumus accelerate clean energy globally, fractionally and securely using Blockchain technology.
  • SAMANJALO and its founder Prudence Simelane have launched a Green Tech solution that addresses carbon emissions of fossil fuels.
  • SmartView Technologies and its founder Charnte Marthinus have created a SaaS Solution that helps customers simplify utility management with insights that reduce running costs.
  • The Awareness Company and lead founder Priaash Ramadeen have launched HYDRA, a software product that balances operational efficiency with sustainable impact.

Design Leaders Conference 2024 – bravely facing the challenge of the future

Irish Design’s major annual conference to explore how design solutions can meet the challenges facing society and business

The vital leadership role the Design Industry can play in driving inclusion, innovation, and the move towards sustainability will be the focus of a major conference in Dublin featuring key Irish and international voices in design.

The Design Leaders Conference 2024, hosted by Design Skillnet and the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI), takes place at the Light House Cinema on Thursday 1 February 2024, under the theme of ‘Design – The Act of Leadership’.

The day-long conference will feature high-calibre thought-leaders, subject-matter experts and leading international designers, such as the multi-award winning designer and author, Rejane Dal Bello and Ade Chong, regarded as one of the most exciting of a new generation of creatives within the industry.

Essential issues within Irish design will be highlighted through business-focused conversations on climate change and the role designers can play in supporting other industries towards sustainability; inclusion, and the benefits of encouraging diverse points of view and experiences; negotiating the client/designer relationship; and the value for design of using behavioural science and clear communication.

Design Leaders Conference 2024 – bravely facing the challenge of the future

The full list of speakers for the Design Leaders Conference 2024 are Ade Chong (Studio Chong, Amsterdam & London); Tom Greever (Executive Product Design Leader and author of Articulating Design Decisions); Rejane Dal Bello (Creative Director and Founder, Studio Rejane Dal Bello); Richard Shotton (Founder, Astroten and author of The Illusion of Choice and the Choice Factory); David McRedmond (Chief Executive Officer, An Post); Darrell Kavanagh (MD, Image Now); Danielle Townsend (Danielle Townsend: Research and Design); Jess Majekodunmi (Director, Human Sciences Studio, Accenture) and Lara Hanlon (Founder and Director, Portion Collaborative).

According to Niamh O’Shaughnessy, Network Manager at Design Skillnet, who host the conference, the Design Leaders Conference is a key opportunity for thought leaders and innovators in the design community to come together to connect and inspire each other with a view to taking practical, impactful, immediate actions tomorrow.

Charlotte Barker, CEO of the Institute of Designers Ireland said: “The pulls on leadership have arguably never been as complex as they are now and the skill sets needed to run commercial creative businesses are more diverse than ever. This year’s conference provides actionable insights for business leaders to take away to help navigate the complexity of our current working environment.”

For more information on this year’s speakers and to book tickets to the DLC 2024 see https://www.designleadersconference.com/

Microsoft Ireland pedals past €1 million milestone for LauraLynn in decade-long cycling challenge

Microsoft Ireland employees celebrated a key milestone in their decade-long fundraising challenge for LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, as they pedalled past the €1million fundraising milestone this month. In total, Microsoft’s annual employee charity cycle has raised over €1,134,000 for LauraLynn, which includes more than €291,000 that was raised by way of its most recent cycle earlier this month.

The annual fundraising challenge has seen Microsoft Ireland employees cycle in excess of 4,000 kilometres since 2014, raising vital funds to support LauraLynn’s work in providing palliative care and support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. This includes therapies such as music therapy, play therapy and bereavement support, as well as vital short stays at the hospice for families in need of respite or crisis care.

This year’s charity cycle took place along the Wild Atlantic Way. Over the course of three days in September, a group of 100 Microsoft Ireland cyclists and support crew travelled 400km along the western seaboard from Clifden, Co. Galway, to Ballina, Co. Mayo.

James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Lead and Vice President for Microsoft Global Operations Service Center, said: “We are incredibly proud of all the Microsoft Ireland team who have gone the extra mile for LauraLynn this year, helping to raise a staggering €291,000 by way of the annual cycle and, in doing so, breaking the €1 million fundraising milestone for the charity over the past decade. It is testament to the dedication and commitment of our employees and supporters that we have been able to achieve this.

“Since the first cycle back in 2014, our teams have been inspired by LauraLynn and the vital care they provide on a daily basis to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Through the additional €291,000 raised this year, LauraLynn will continue to support increasing numbers of children across the country who are most in need of their help.”

Ray Snowdon, a member of the cycling team and Director of Microsoft Business Operations Fusion Development said: “Having grown from just 10 cyclists in 2014 to a team of over 100 this year, the charity cycle in aid of LauraLynn has brought the Microsoft community together and helped to generate much needed funds for Ireland’s only children’s hospice. We’re incredibly proud of breaking the €1m fundraising milestone this year, something we could not have achieved without the generosity of our families and supporters who have helped to propel us on the road to a million. Our collective efforts are helping LauraLynn to meet the vital needs of children in their care.”

Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn, said: “This is an extraordinary achievement by Microsoft Ireland and its employees who have become long-term partners of LauraLynn. It is the tenth year that the team have come out in force to fundraise for LauraLynn and each year they have raised the fundraising bar to new heights. The generosity shown by the Microsoft Ireland team has made a real difference to the lives of children with life-limiting conditions and their families who rely on the care and support of LauraLynn. Partners like Microsoft are vital for us to continue to grow and provide our services. LauraLynn are now supporting more children and families than ever before, alongside our Hospice in Leopardstown the community team operating from Mallow since last year provide care to Cork, Kerry and Limerick families. We have also recently announced our community team expansion brining care into the homes of children and families in the Midlands, West & Northwest of the country.”

The Microsoft Ireland fundraising cycle is just one of the ways in which the company supports LauraLynn. Microsoft has also donated software and provided training to the charity, and Microsoft employees regularly volunteer their time to help at LauraLynn House.

To find out more about the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, please visit https://lauralynn.ie/.

Stocktaking.ie and DigiTally Launch Fundraiser for Childhood Cancer Charity with Marathon and Steps Challenge

Ireland’s leading stocktaking service Stocktaking.ie, supported by food service software DigiTally, has launched its 2023 fundraiser to support the Cancer Fund for Children, an all-Ireland charity that provides emotional support to children diagnosed with cancer and their families. The fundraiser officially kicked off on Tuesday 18 April with a coffee morning, while on Sunday 23 April, CEO Patrick McDermott ran the London City Marathon in aid of Daisy Lodge Mayo, a short break centre for families.

Last year, Patrick also successfully ran the Chicago City Marathon, raising funds for Daisy Lodge Mayo. This year, the Stocktaking.ie team will support him with their own Steps Challenge to the equivalent of 55 marathons. The steps challenge also commenced on 18 April and will end on 25 May.

Daisy Lodge, in Newcastle Co. Down, is a nurturing and restorative space that provides families with a chance to connect during a difficult time. The charity urgently needs to build a second centre in Mayo, and the funds raised by Stocktaking.ie and DigiTally will contribute to this effort.

In 2022, Stocktaking.ie raised over €4,000 for the Cancer Fund for Children through a local table quiz and the Chicago City Marathon, with an additional €1,300 raised from the coffee morning. The fundraiser will now continue with former Irish rugby captain Rory Best’s walk from Dublin to Cong, which Patrick will assist with, to raise additional awareness for the cause.

Commenting on the fundraiser Patrick said: “We are proud to launch this effort to support the Cancer Fund for Children and contribute to the building of a second Daisy Lodge in Mayo. We hope to raise as much awareness and funds as possible to support families affected by childhood cancer.”

For more information visit www.stocktaking.ie

Expleo targets £130K for charities in Tech Cycle Challenge

Expleo, a global technology, engineering and consulting service provider, is today announcing its fifth annual Tech & Engineering Teams Cycle Challenge. The company plans to raise £25K for NSPCC and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI) at this year’s event on Saturday, 27th May, bringing the total sum raised through the cycle challenge to £130K.

After a three-year hiatus, Expleo’s biggest annual charity fundraiser is back. This year’s event features more than 100 cyclists from technology companies based in Northern Ireland, with esteemed cyclist John Madden leading the group. With the choice of a 40km or 80km course, participants will start and end their journey in Ballygally, Co. Antrim, while taking in the breathtaking views of the Causeway Coastal Route and The Glens on the way.

Since its inception in 2016, the Cycle Challenge has raised £105K, with all proceeds going directly to NSPCC. This year’s challenge will also see AANI benefit from the initiative. To date, the funds raised have allowed NSPCC to deliver its Speak Out, Stay Safe message to 60,521 school children in Northern Ireland, providing them with knowledge to stay safe from abuse and neglect. Additionally, the funds will sustain AANI’s rapid air response services, aiding in urgent medical assistance to save lives in the NI region.

The sportive will see local pharmacy chains providing aid and a local retailer supplying nutrition. Spirit AeroSystems, Liberty IT, Energia, PwC, Allstate Northern Ireland and Telefónica Tech are long-term supporters of the event and will be involved. Additionally, Splash Community Projects UK, Pharmacy Plus and Championship Ireland have recently joined to lend their support to the event.

Event organiser, Rob McConnell, is Expleo’s Director, Head of Expleo NI and an NSPCC Northern Ireland ambassador. He said: “We are thrilled to bring back our annual charity cycle event and are delighted to have renowned cyclist John Madden join us once again on this ride. This is a community event for the whole family, and we’re proud to have the support of local businesses and organisations.

“Charities have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, with the pandemic hitting them hard. Our cycle provides an opportunity for participants to not only raise funds for important causes, but also to prioritise team bonding and personal fitness. Our goal is to expand this event to an even larger scale and encourage other companies to join us in giving back to our communities. Every little bit helps, and we hope that this event will raise awareness, help answer more calls, and provide vital support to those in need.”

Stefani Mearns, Supporter Fundraising Manager, NSPCC NI, said: “We are delighted to have the support of Expleo for the fifth year with their Tech Team Cycle Challenge. The event has gone from strength to strength and is a testament to Rob and the team at Expleo for all their work hard and commitment.”

“Thank you also to all the teams who participate and support the event and in turn, all raise crucial funds to enable the NSPCC to be there for children and young people right here in Northern Ireland when they urgently need our support. We are so grateful to Rob for his continued support to NSPCC Northern Ireland and for joining us in our Fight for Every Childhood.”

Grace Williams, Area Fundraising Manager for Air Ambulance NI said: “We are so grateful to Rob and the team at Expleo for organising such an incredible event – A lot of hard work and effort has gone into planning this cycle and we are so touched they have chosen to support us in this way. We are really looking forward to the event and would encourage anyone thinking about taking part, to get a team together and sign up today!”

“The funds raised will help the medical team lift off by helicopter to reach future patients, wherever that may be in Northern Ireland.  This is very much a service that no one wishes to need but is there for every one of us. As a service we rely heavily on charitable donations to keep the medical team in the air, delivering critical care to patients who have suffered trauma throughout Northern Ireland – without this type of support, the team simply couldn’t fly.  Every single penny counts.”

Expleo welcomes all technology and engineering teams in Northern Ireland to take part, regardless of their cycling experience. To register for the Expleo Tech & Engineering Teams Cycle Challenge 2023, email cycle@expleogroup.com.