08 Jun Unboxing Manufacturing gets the Green Light
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, and Minister for Education, Norma Foley, last week announced an investment in 47 projects aimed at improving public understanding of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The €3.7 million funding will be focused on encouraging diversity and inclusion in STEM, while also targeting a wide range of ages including young children, teens and adults.
Announcing the funding, Minister Harris said:
“I am delighted to announce today the 47 projects receiving funding through the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Discover Programme.
“These projects will have an invaluable impact, starting conversations about the role of STEM in society and inspiring our young people to explore careers in these areas.
“Through initiatives such as the SFI Discover Programme, we must support the public to have access to, and understand, the issues that impact our collective future, and the role science and technology can play in providing solutions. I wish all the recipients every success in the rollout of their projects.”
Speaking of the projects co-funded by the Department of Education, Minister Foley said:
“We are pleased to collaborate with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science by supporting five projects that will receive funding through the SFI Discover Programme.
“These projects are designed to grow and encourage participation in STEM education and public engagement, inspiring our young people to explore STEM roles in the future. I want to congratulate all of the individuals and teams involved in their work to date on these projects.”
“Unboxing Manufacturing” is one of the projects to receive funding through the SFI Discover Programme. Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Confirm, the SFI Research Centre for Smart Manufacturing will work in collaboration with Our Lady’s Hospital School located in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin to co-design and co-create pedagogical workbooks and kits that provide their students with the opportunity to engage actively with Manufacturing and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.
The outcome of Unboxing Manufacturing is that children and adolescents will be encouraged to develop skills key to the Irish science curriculum and experience STEM activities in a fun and educational environment.
IMR’s Educational Outreach Program Lead, Isabel Meza said:
“We are delighted to have been granted SFI funding for our project Unboxing Manufacturing. This funding will enable us to broaden the participation and equity of access in STEM by co-creating and co-designing high-quality educational workbooks that meet the purpose of enriching the learning experience of the children attending Our Lady’s Hospital School. It is truly an honour to be working with I-Form, Confirm and Our Lady’s Hospital School on this project. It is quite an amazing team! This wouldn’t be possible without them, especially the teachers who are doing their best to bring this type of initiative to children in the school.”
If you have questions on IMR’s outreach activities or wish to get involved either through sponsorship or participating, please get in touch.
Email: info@imr.ie