This unique School-University-Museum-Partnership was led by Professor Geraldine Mooney Simmie (Director of EPI•STEM National Centre for STEM Education) and Dr. Michelle Starr (Research Liaison Officer, EPI•STEM), in collaboration with Maria Cagney (Curator) and Emma King (Education Officer) at the Hunt Museum and Norma O’Brien, Director of the Limerick Education Support Centre.
The STEAM Education projects were presented as posters, videos and artefacts by more than 40 pupils coming from six post-primary schools in Limerick - Castletroy College, Coláiste Chiaráin, Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, Coláiste Nano Nagle, St. Munchin’s College and Thomond College. The twelve teachers who generously volunteered their time came from a rich diversity of subjects including science, physics, chemistry, engineering, coding, arts, economy and STEM. While most of the participants were from Transition Year, one group of pupils were from second year.
The pupils were invited to imagine a futuristic village in Ireland for 2050 that puts social justice and environmental justice at the heart of sustainable living. The awards ceremony was made possible, by the commitment of teachers and pupils and by the generous sponsorship of five local enterprises, including Analog Devices, Boston Scientific, Eli Lilly, ESB and Serosep. Dermot Bannon, the renowned architect and RTE 1 personality sent a wonderful video message to all the pupils.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Professor Geraldine Mooney Simmie said “We are at a crucial crossroads in Ireland and Europe today, and urgently need ambitious leaders in relation to how we might reimagine and plan for a decent democratic society while securing our small part of the planet. The young people today have shown just how innovative they can be when it comes to finding fair and sustainable solutions to the problems of housing, infrastructure and energy”.