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RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick 2017 RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick 2017

Education

PHOTOS RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick 2017

RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick 2017. Photo: courtesy of Sean Curtin, True Media.

Double the Fun at RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick @ Mary Immaculate College. From on-line hacking, to examining sugar content in school lunches, to promoting laughter as a medicinal cure, to defying gravity, there was double the fun at the RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick 2017 where 3,000 primary school children exhibited their STEM projects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) proving what inquisitive minds they have.

After the huge success of the inaugural RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in 2016, the RDS Primary Science Fair returned to MIC this week; opening on Thursday, January 19 and running through until Saturday 21, with twice the capacity.

Speaking in advance of the Fair, Michael Duffy, RDS Chief Executive, said: “The expansion of the RDS Primary Science Fair to Limerick last year was a great success, and we are delighted that capacity has doubled at Mary Immaculate College after just one year. We were given a great welcome by the people, primary students and teachers of Limerick in 2016, and were delighted to find a city that shares the RDS ambition of seeing Ireland thrive culturally and economically. We chose Limerick as the first city to expand to outside of Dublin and spring-boarding from that success we are expanding again this year, this time to Belfast. Between the three venues: Dublin, Limerick and Belfast, we will have almost 7,500 primary school students engaged in STEM-related projects at an early education age, which international studies show can be a crucially important stage for students’ long-term engagement with STEM.”


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Conn Murray Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council said: “Limerick City and County Council is delighted to welcome the RDS Primary Science Fair to Limerick for the second year in a row.  The Fair is a wonderful starting-off point for pupils who have an interest in maths, science and engineering.  These are the subjects that will be very important in attracting jobs to Limerick in the years to come and it’s great that we have been able to help build the foundations.”

The aim of the RDS Primary Science Fair is to equip students with science and maths skills. Developed and managed by the RDS, is a non-competitive event and looks to engage the entire class in a science-related project. The Fair taps into children’s natural curiosity, encouraging students to engage and question the everyday world around them.

Speaking at the official opening of the Fair Professor Eugene Wall, Acting President of MIC welcomed the pupils and teachers from the 120 different primary schools to the event. “Mary Immaculate College has a rich history of engagement with all sectors of the wider community and is committed to making a positive difference locally, regionally and nationally. Very much in line with the goals of the RDS, we have a strong track record in encouraging children’s long-term interest, understanding, knowledge, and skills in STEM subjects – and developing primary school teachers’ confidence, knowledge, and skills in the teaching of STEM. Science education, and particularly the approach encouraged by this Fair, is crucial in fostering wonderment in children and in helping them to develop scientific reasoning.

Continuing he said “Here at MIC we organise a wide variety of interactive and educational STEM workshops and fairs for teachers, pupils, and the general public on an on-going basis with the aim of encouraging and facilitating both adults and children to engage with science, maths, and technology. Therefore, we are delighted to be supporting the RDS Primary Science Fair which further complements and strengthens our impact in this area”.

Independent research carried out in 2016 found the Fair to be unique on an international level through its methodology of whole-class, child-led approach to primary school STEM learning; this study also found that multi-annual participation has lasting impact at student, teacher, and school levels; improving students’ confidence, social skills, teamwork, and communication, in addition to equipping them with science skills. RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick 2017 at MIC takes place from Thursday, January 19 to Saturday, January 21, open from 10.00am to 3.00pm with last entries at 1.30pm. Limited tickets still available on the door.

Further information on the RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick click here

To read more about education in Limerick click here

RDS Primary Science Fair Limerick 2017 Pictures: Sean Curtin & Oisin mc Hugh/True Media.

 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.