The Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme,originally intended as a three-year awareness initiative, has been extended by the Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce for a further year. Minister Treacy said that, in providing funding to continue the STI Awareness Programme in 1999, he was confident that targeted activities would continue to be developed. "Widespread public information on science and technology issues is critical to our development in the technology age and, in particular, our younger people need to be well educated in science and technology, the career opportunities it provides and its importance to our economy".

The 1998 Survey of Public Attitudes to Science, Technology and Innovation undertaken by the Programme found that overall attitudes towards science and technology are generally positive and stable, and in a number of specific areas there are strong and encouraging signs.

There is a widely shared impression of increased media coverage for science, technology and innovation over the past two to three years. Regard for science and engineering as a profession is high among senior business people and civil servants: however, among students and parents there was a low level of familiarity with S&T careers and this is cause for concern.

The S&T sectors are at the core of Ireland’s economic growth, and the numbers employed, particularly in the software industry, are expected to rise significantly over the next three years. It is essential that young people are made aware of these opportunities and given the chance to hone their skills. The research confirms the need to better define and demonstrate the importance of S&T in terms of role models, identifiable career opportunities and impact on the Irish economy.

With this in mind, the STI Awareness Programme has announced a number of new initiatives over 1999.

• The launch of a National Science Day for all primary schools to take place on Friday 12 November. All primary schools throughout the country will be invited to take part in hands-on science activities for the afternoon, with inter-active quizzes and fun experiments.

• The IBM/STI Science & Technology Journalism Awards were announced in August. Applications are open to all journalists who have written an article in the area of science and technology. This includes all articles printed or broadcast in the Irish media, in trade press, academic journals or newsletters. The Awards will be made in December.
The objective of the competition is to improve the level of coherent and accessible information available to the general public through this increasingly important field of journalism.

• The publication of a National STI Poll on the general public’s opinions on, and attitudes towards, science and technology issues and their impact on everyday life. The Poll will also ascertain how much parents know about career opportunities for their children in the areas of S&T, including their levels of awareness of the points required for entry to science and technology degree courses.

• The compilation of a Speakers’ Directory, in conjunction with the Forfás Skills Awareness Programme, which has been sent to career guidance teachers in every secondary school in the country. The objective is to outline opportunities in the area of S&T by providing relevant role models to talk to students in their locality about their job, career path and future aspirations. Industry and academics have reacted very positively to this initiative and we are very grateful for their support.

In addition, several existing activities have continued:

• The National Innovation Awards,sponsored by the Awareness Programme,Pricewaterhouse Coopers and The Irish Times are in their third year. The Awards aim to highlight our most innovative companies and the ingredients that make for successful innovation. The overall winners of the 1998 Awards, Enfer Scientific, have been extremely successful since winning the Award and,according to Riona Sayers, Operations Manager, "involvement with the National Innovation Awards has proved a very worthwhile and valuable experience for Enfer Scientific, with the company going from strength to strength both nationally and internationally".

• The 6th Irish Innovation Lecture takes place in Belfast in November. The Lecture provides an excellent opportunity for industrialists and academics from North and South to exchange ideas and experiences on how science, technology and innovation policies might evolve in the coming years.

• The third Science Week Ireland takes place from 7–14 November 1999. The last Science Week Ireland of the Millennium has been nominated an official Millennium Project and, with this in mind, we plan celebrations throughout the country during the course of the week. Details of events will be advertised locally and nationally. Last year over 150 events took place and, this year, we hope to create an even bigger and better week of fun events, activities and provide valuable public information in the important area of S&T.

The goal of the STI Awareness Programme is to show the public that S&T help to:

• Develop leading edge industry and skilled jobs
• Create exciting career options.
• Develop creativity in our children.

So, in addition to the above targeted activities, the Awareness Programme will also continue to support other S&T organisations by sponsoring events and encouraging new initiatives, and will continue in their endeavours to increase media coverage of S&T issues in the broadcast and print media.

The S&T area offers the people of Ireland the chance for continued economic prosperity, and the Awareness Programme aims to communicate that message to the general public and particularly to our young people, to encourage them to grasp the opportunities on offer.