2006 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

Home Page

Table of contents

Index by Author

Index by topics

Search


FORF�S
SARA RETIEF
Schools awarded for science excellence

Three hundred and three primary schools received Awards of Science Excellence at a series of ceremonies nationwide recently. The Awards were given in recognition of the increased participation and knowledge gained through the Discover Primary Science (DPS) programme.

Participation in the programme has increased year-on-year and now reaches some 1,300 schools nationwide and is set to reach a further 1,600 new schools registered for induction days in the next academic year. The Discover Primary Science programme was developed to help primary school children understand the extensive part that modern science plays in their everyday lives. A significant growth of interest in science at primary level is reflected by the 303 schools who achieved awards this year, and the participation in the Discovery Primary Science programme by registered schools.

The Government Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, launched last June, details plans to develop student interest in the sciences from primary level to continue to Leaving Cert and third level.


Commenting on the success of the programme and the Awards, Miche�l Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said: �It is imperative that Ireland continues to foster interest in the areas of science, engineering and technology to maintain our leading position and competitiveness in these sectors into the future. Each award has been thoroughly deserved and teachers nationwide should be commended for their enthusiasm and the encouragement they give their students.�


Pictured at Awards of Science Excellence in Cork: Minister Martin with school children from Passage East National School, Cork from l to r: Ultan Duggan, Hannah Hutchinson and Michael McGuiness.

Commenting on the Awards, Peter Brabazon, Director of the Discover Science & Engineering programme said �We were delighted with the level of participation in the Awards of Science Excellence and the interest shown by both students and teachers alike. Discover Primary Science has helped young children to learn more about how their world works and foster an interest in the applications of science and technology to their own lives.�

Hands-on training sessions are provided for a nominated teacher from each school participating in the programme, while a range of resources are then supplied to participating classes. In addition, teachers are introduced to the dedicated website www.primaryscience.ie which is full of useful information and includes a seasonal newsletter for registered schools.


Attractiveness of science and engineering careers highlighted by new report

Miche�l Martin TD has launched a report by Forf�s which indicates that starting salaries for science, engineering and technology graduates are amongst the highest of all Irish graduates. The report Comparative Starting Salaries and Career Progression in Science, Engineering and Technology highlights the exciting careers and levels of opportunity open to graduates and students in the science, engineering and technology sector.

Minister Martin said, �These graduates and students are at the forefront of Ireland�s transition as a world leading knowledge economy, working at the cutting edge of innovation and research.�

Attracting students to the science, engineering and technology disciplines from primary through to fourth level will be critically important to delivering the long term aims of the strategy and the outcomes of this report will enhance the attractiveness of this sector to potential students. The investment in the Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation will also ensure that the opportunities and development of the science engineering and technology sector will continue well into the future.

The report shows both graduates and those currently examining science, engineering & technology as a career option that there are opportunities available to them, not only in these disciplines but across a wide range of areas. The report also highlights the flexibility that a qualification in the science, engineering & technology discipline offers to graduates in terms of the number of employment sectors and occupations that they can enter ranging from the healthcare sectors to business information systems.

The full report which includes the main findings can be found on Forf�s website www.forfas.ie .


The main findings:

� Across a range of qualifications from primary degree to PhD level the report shows that graduates in disciplines with a strong science and technology content tend to be better paid than graduates in other disciplines.
� Graduates in medicine and healthcare, disciplines which have a substantial scientific content, are amongst the best paid. At primary degree level 75% of dentistry graduates and 68% of paramedical graduates earn in excess of �33,000 in their first year.
� The next highest paid graduates at primary degree level are those in engineering and computing and science. Within the engineering disciplines chemical and processing engineers are the highest paid in their first year of work with 23% earning in excess of �33,000.
� Within the computer sector business information systems graduates are the highest paid with 21% of these graduates also earning in excess of �33,000.
Contact: Sara Retief
Discover Primary Science,
Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2
+353 1607 3082
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.primaryscience.ie