The Partnership is an original supporter of the RDS Science Blast, the primary school science fair program that equips young learners with the skills they need to thrive in science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields. The Partnership also supports STEAM education at Mary Immaculate College, whose special events programming reached 12,000 young children in 2021. In addition, the Partnership supports the development of the teaching of science in primary schools in counties Kilkenny and Clare in conjunction with Dublin City University.
ESB Science Blast
ESB SCIENCE BLAST AIMS TO EQUIP PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ACROSS IRELAND WITH SCIENTIFIC AND PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES THAT WILL SERVE THEM FOR LIFE.
ESB Science Blast’s annual showcase events in Dublin, Limerick, and Belfast have exploded in popularity, with over 17,000 students participating in 2023. While primary-age science fairs are common in the United States, they have only recently gained traction in Ireland. Consequently, the RDS Primary Science Fairs often represent the inaugural and sole opportunity for students to partake in such events, leaving a lasting impact during their formative years.
These events, held without the pressure of competition, provide a platform for classes to showcase their scientific investigations and engage in enriching educational workshops.
“It was brilliant to teach the students STEM and science in the real world rather than on a whiteboard! My class group is Multigrade, which can make some programmes difficult to do, but ESB Science Blast was perfect for all ages and abilities.”— Niall West, Church Street National School, Co. Limerick
This innovative program:
Fosters long-term interest, understanding, knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) among primary-aged students.
Supports primary school teachers in effectively teaching critical STEM skills.
Engages families in nurturing supportive STEM learning environments for children outside the classroom.
By instilling a passion for STEM at an early age, ESB Science Blast is making STEM both exciting and accessible to a new generation of learners. Independent assessments have proved the fairs to be of substantial value for students, with 97% of participants reporting an enhancement in their science skills, and 80% noting an improvement in mathematics proficiency.
RDS Science Fairs
“Can the flush of a toilet cistern create enough power to light a light bulb?” Caherconlish National School, County Limerick.
“It was brilliant to teach the students STEM and science in the real world rather than on a whiteboard! My class group is multi-grade, which can make some programmes difficult to do, but ESB Science Blast was perfect for all ages and abilities.”
– Niall West, Church Street National School
Each year, the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) hosts non-competitive primary science fairs where classes of students present their scientific investigations and attend educational workshops. The Partnership is a co-sponsor of the Limerick and Belfast Fairs and a long-time supporter of the Dublin Fair.
The RDS Primary Science Fairs aim to develop students’ scientific skills and curiosity. They are a venue for students to develop numeracy and literacy skills, exchange ideas, and for teachers to gain a professional network of contacts to share best practices. Students are encouraged to design a project, investigate a question, and analyze their results. Independent evaluation has shown that 97% of participants reported that their science skills improved, and 80% noted an improvement in their math skills.
While primary science fairs are common in the United States, they have only been recently introduced in Ireland. The RDS Primary Science Fairs are often the first and only opportunity for students to participate in an event of this kind, making an impact at a formative age.
It ranks among the foremost science education initiatives tailored for primary schools worldwide, showcasing its significant scale and impact. Other sponsors of the program include the Department of Education, Science Foundation Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge, Irish Aid, and Met Éireann.
Western Seaboard Science Program
The Partnership is proud to support the Western Seaboard Science Program (WSSP). This program offers invaluable professional development in science to teachers in small primary schools in the western counties.
Teachers working in small rural schools in the west of Ireland can lack resources adequate training to effectively present science in the classroom. In association with the Institute of Education at Dublin City University (DCU) and regional education centers, the Western Seaboard Science Program affords teachers the opportunity to attend science workshops, prepare lesson plans, gather new ideas, and create a local network of teachers.
At the heart of this initiative is the ongoing engagement of local science program coordinators who regularly travel to the schools to share innovative teaching methods. As a result, teachers reported increased confidence, greater student engagement, and positive ripple effects for the entire school.
This year, WSSP is working with schools in Clare and Kerry. In collaboration with Dublin City University, as well as Mary Immaculate College, the Partnership also funds similar programs in Cork, Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Limerick – reaching over 5,000 students and teachers annually to inspire budding scientists across the island.
Science Teacher Training
Science was only introduced to the primary school curriculum by the Irish Government in 1999, with full implementation by 2003.
While limited government resources were allocated to the transition, Partnership contacts in Ireland suggested that they were not nearly enough.
American donors and Irish officials feared that without a robust science curriculum, an entire generation would fall behind and Ireland would not be competitive in the rapidly-changing tech industry. Thanks to our donors, the Partnership supported a study to understand how best to improve science education.
From 2004 to 2007, the Partnership co-financed a study with the Irish Government of 15 schools in Co. Kerry to determine ways to improve science education in the primary schools. The study identified four primary impediments to a robust science education: (1) lack of teacher confidence in the primary science curriculum, (2) lack of teacher training in science, resulting in poor knowledge of science subject matter and pedagogy, (3) lack of adequate support and resources, and (4) inability to keep up with new trends in science teaching. To combat these, the study suggested increased teacher training, greater support for schools, a focus on children aged 9 to 12, and a traveling professional facilitator to work with teachers. It also suggested clustering rural schools based on geographic area to promote the sharing of best practices and increase the efficiency of science teaching workshops.
2008-2010
St. Patrick’s Teaching College provided the original facilitators, teacher training curriculum, and administrative support for the 15 Kerry schools. From this evolved the Western Seaboard Science Program (WSSP), which replicated the model in counties Galway, Mayo, and Donegal.
2011-Present
Starting in 2011, the Partnership has been working with St. Patrick’s to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to teachers in Kilkenny, Mayo, and Clare.
This program uses traveling facilitators and county education centers to offer classes in science teaching and provides a space for teachers to come together and share best practices. In order to build upon the success of WSSP, the program also gives teachers scholarships to pursue higher degrees in science teaching, allowing them to become specialists in the field.
Seeking to further advance science teacher training in primary schools, the Partnership recently began working with Dr. Maeve Liston at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.
Dr. Liston is a staunch advocate for science education, and has played a vital role in increasing the number of science courses that undergraduate teaching students are required to take. Alongside providing Continuing Professional Development in science teaching across Munster, Dr. Liston hosts a science week at Mary Immaculate College for local primary students to come in, experience the campus, and participate in a series of hands-on science lessons.
