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YEAR BOOK |
Discover Science and Engineering
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A voyage of discovery! – young people "Discover Science and Engineering" through a programme of activities of fun and magic
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The objectives of "Discover Science and Engineering" are to:
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raise the general level of awareness of the physical sciences, thereby promoting a greater understanding of science amongst society at large, and
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increase the level of student uptake of the physical sciences at second and third level while fostering a positive attitude towards careers in Science, Engineering and Technology.
Discover Science and Engineering brings together a number of awareness campaigns – including the Science, Technology, Innovation Awareness Programme and the National Skills Awareness Campaign both formerly managed by Forfás, the STEPS programme managed by the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, and the Discover Science programme managed by FÁS. Discover Science and Engineering is being developed under the guidance of a high level Steering Committee chaired by Leo Enright, the well known science broadcaster. The committee has fifteen members drawn from across Government, industry and representative bodies.
INITIATIVES AND EVENTS
The programme for Discover Science and Engineering will include many of the activities which have grown in popularity over the past number of years, and will be expanded to increase participation and impact with the target audience. A snapshot of these activities is given below.
SCOPE TV
SCOPE, a 13 part science and engineering TV series, was broadcast on RTÉ Network 2. This fast-paced programme looked at a wide variety of science and engineering concepts and principles and featured many young science and engineering professionals describing their jobs. The programme used teenage interests (music, sport, fashion) to demonstrate the role science and engineering plays in our everyday lives.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Forfás, RTÉ, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, InterTrade Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and FÁS together provided the support necessary to make SCOPE a success. The series was also repeated over the summer period.
Science Week Ireland
Science Week Ireland, which takes place in November, has become the flagship event for science awareness activities. Science Week 2003 saw the total number of events rise to over 250 nationwide.
The Tánaiste, who launched the week commented:
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"Science Week Ireland is a great opportunity for lots of young people, students and parents to see how science can be fun and interesting. It is a week of events that are not only educational but enjoyable and entertaining, covering a huge variety of topics from optical illusions to forensic science, taking in aliens along the way. With workshops on the magic and fun of science, there is something to capture everyone's imagination during Science Week."
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The weather forecaster from SKY TV, Lisa Bourke, who also participated in the launch of Science Week, said:
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"I have always had a love of Science, and the Week is fantastic because it gives people the opportunity to experience all that is exciting in the world of science. There are endless possibilities for those who have studied science – it gives you a firm foundation for careers in so many areas."
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Primary Science Clubs
Primary level students are one of the key target audiences for the Discover Science and Engineering programme. Primary Science Clubs bring science directly to children, and promote an interest in science related matters and demonstrate the role that science plays in the world in which we live. The clubs also have the added benefit of raising the awareness level of teachers and parents, who are key influencers of this age group. Primary Science Clubs were launched on a pilot basis in 2002, and encouragingly the numbers of schools involved has been growing every year. For 2004 Primary Science Clubs there are over 600 schools targeted.
K'Nex Challenge 2004 – Organised by the Institution of Engineers of Ireland
The Steps Junior Engineer for Ireland K'Nex Challenge 2004
Over 3,400 pupils took part in the K'Nex Challenge, with 32 reaching the final at UCD on 18th June 2004. The challenging task was to build, in 90 minutes, a model of an aircraft of particular dimensions using the K'Nex kits provided. The winning team, Stephen Walsh and T.J. O'Sullivan from SN Lios Telig, Tralee, represented Ireland in the Grand Final in Greenwich on 19th July 2004.
FÁS Science Challenge Graduate Project
The FÁS Science Challenge Graduate Project offered fourteen students the opportunity to work with leading NASA scientists at the Florida Space Authority. The Science Challenge Team 2004 was selected from science, engineering and technology disciplines from universities and institutes of technology throughout Ireland. The team participated in a six-week intensive programme. This exciting hands-on programme provided the team with the opportunity to increase their knowledge base in order to further their careers within industry, scientific research and academia.
Speakers Directory
The Discover Science and Engineering programme has also developed a 'Speakers Directory' which was published in January 2004. This directory contains the names and contact details of people from a range of industries nationwide who are prepared to talk in schools about their job, their science or engineering career path, and the range of prospective jobs within their chosen industry.
National Science Centre
The merging of awareness activities into the integrated Discover Science and Engineering programme demonstrates commitment at a political level to science and engineering, and acknowledges the essential contribution that graduates from the science and engineering disciplines make to the Irish economy. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to support the development of an interactive science centre aimed at enhancing knowledge and interest in science. The development of 'Exploration Station' an interactive Learning Centre with a predominantly science & technology focus was announced by the Tánaiste in December 2003. Expected to open its doors in 2006, the centre will be custom designed to stimulate interest and excitement in the world of science/engineering and technology, and will be located in the new OPW Heuston Gate Development in Kilmainham in Dublin.
Contact: Peter Brabazon, Director DSE Programme; Tel: 01 607 3008; E-mail: [email protected] ; Web: www.science.ie