Northside schools get STEM awards

A TOTAL of 116 primary schools in Dublin, including a large number from the Northside, have received a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Discover Science and Maths Award for the 2017/2018 school year.

Naul National School, Corduff National School, Corduff Portmarnock Educate Together, Bracken Educate Together Castlelands, Balbriggan, St Patrick’s National School Skerries, St Teresa’s Primary School, Hampton, Balbriggan, St Mary’s National School Garristown, Donabate Portrane Educate Together Ballisk, Ballyboughal National School, and Gaelscoil Boriomhe, Swords were among the local award recipients.

The programme aims to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among primary school students and teachers.

To qualify for the awards, schools are required to keep a log of STEM activities that they have undertaken in the classroom throughout the academic year. Schools are awarded credit for visiting Discover Science Centres, carrying out their own experiments, going on STEM-related field trips, using digital technology and maths as part of their science work, hosting scientist and engineer speaker visits and holding a science open in the school.

Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation Heather Humphreys, announced the award recipientslastweek. She congratulated all the Dublin students and their teachers on their fantastic achievements to date.

“The SFI Discover Science and Maths Awards provides students with the skills necessary to learn more about STEM and inspire them to become the next generation of business leaders, creative thinkers and problem solvers,” she said. “People working in science, technology andengineering in Ireland are leading the way in these growing sectors and it’s crucial to ensure uptake of STEM subjects at an early age.”

Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell (FG) and Senator James Reilly (FG) both welcomed the awards for schools in Fingal.