Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) announced €1.6 million in funding for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) educational and public engagement projects in Ireland.
Supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation (DJEI) and delivered through SFI’s education and outreach programme, SFI Discover
The funding will support 39 initiatives designed to encourage people of all ages to develop an active and informed interest and involvement in STEM. It is estimated that over 4.5 million people will engage with the various projects over the course of 2015.
Some of the SFI Discover funded projects include: Brain Freeze 2, a science-based animated series developed with RTE and CBBC; MakerDojo, a hardware or ‘hacker’ style club delivered by Tyndall National Institute, Biomaker Fórma and DesignerDojo, where the public can get hands-on with science and technology; DART of Physics, a project which encourages thousands of commuters to think about physics in a different way through a poster campaign on the DART; and a a range of family-friendly space-related experiments at Blackrock Castle Observatory, complemented by a new video exhibition focused on Irish space scientists and STEM careers.
SFI Discover’s strategic partners include SciFest, The Festival of Curiosity and National Maths Week, which have also received funding.
Dr Ruth Freeman, director of strategy and communications, SFI added: “The fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics are interlinked with the future prosperity of our economy and society. SFI is committed to stimulating interest in, excitement and debate about STEM among the general public through SFI Discover. The projects to receive funding were assessed by international experts and selected based on their potential to promote awareness and understanding of the importance and relevance of STEM to everyday life and to reach new audiences not normally engaged with STEM, as well as continuing to target existing audiences.”
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