Students from Limerick post-primary schools have been presented with awards in UL for their projects to design a futuristic eco-village in Ireland.
70 students from six schools across Limerick were represented at the awards, as part of a new UL initiative and a collaboration between UL’s EPISTEM, the National Centre for STEM Education, The Hunt Museum, Limerick City and Limerick Education Support Centre (LESC).
The project challenged transition year students from Castletroy College, Crescent Comprehensive, St Munchin’s College, Thomond College, Nano Nagle Secondary School and Coláiste Chiaráin, to design a community-centric, futuristic eco-village in Ireland for the year 2050.
Councillor Pádraig Reale, officially launched the Awards Ceremony on the day. Students were presented with prizes for their outstanding contributions in energy conservation, green housing, public transport and social justice.
Geraldine Mooney Simmie, Director of EPISTEM National Centre of STEM Education, said: “We are at a crucial time in Ireland and Europe for showing real leadership in relation to how we plan for a decent democratic society into the future.
“We share a collective responsibility for having education work to make a decent society and for better care of our environment. Many of the big problems, relating to energy, housing, and transport depend on our collective capacity for wisdom in action, making knowledge work for us in ways that secure wise ethical and political decision-making,” added Professor Mooney Simmie.
‘Climate Action and Sustainable Development’ will be introduced as a new subject to the senior cycle curriculum in schools across Ireland on a pilot basis in September 2025.
This project was designed to give students an idea of the subject with hands-on experience of what is involved in caring for the environment in a sustainable way.
Students worked in teams with their teachers throughout the project to produce a conceptual design which integrated UN Sustainable Development Goals, new and emerging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths) technologies, renewable energies and social justice principles which protect the most vulnerable and provide public services for all village residents.
UL’s EPISTEM provided professional development seminars for the teachers as well as a range of other resources. LESC and The Hunt Museum held workshops and provided a repository of materials and artefacts for their projects.
Emma King, Education Coordinator of The Hunt Museum explained that identifying key challenges and barriers to sustainability throughout the project allowed the students to consider how creativity and innovation can help overcome obstacles to build a more sustainable future.
“Creative thinking is at the core of innovation and progress, driving change by inspiring new ideas, solutions, and perspectives. Throughout history, visionary minds have reshaped the world, turning ideas into groundbreaking innovations that have paved the way for a better future,” Ms King reflected.
Architect and RTÉ presenter Dermot Bannon sent a video message of congratulations to the students, while Norma O’Brien, Director of LESC, praised the students for their dedication and innovative ideas.
“Your solution-focused mindset and innovative ideas, together with your dedication, creativity, and teamwork are paving the way for a greener and more hopeful future,” she said.
The projects will be included in an exhibition that is open to the public in The Hunt Museum from 1 – 22 April 2025.