COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, April 11, 2016
MOTION NO.5
MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins
"That this Council asks the Chief Executive to investigate how we can encourage more children and young people to develop an aptitude for and interest in STEM subjects."
REPORT:
The Council and the Library Service actively encourage children and young people in South Dublin County to study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through a number of initiatives including the very successful National Science Week and Engineer’s Week.
For the eight year in succession, South Dublin County Council hosted a programme of events for over 2000 local primary and secondary students as part of Engineers Week from the 29th to the 4th March 2016. This is a nationwide event coordinated by Engineers Ireland as part of their STEPS to Engineering program. The aim of the week is to positively promote engineering as a career and to create an awareness of the wonderful, life-enhancing and exciting challenges that engineers are involved in and responsible for. In addition, the nurturing of young engineering talent has been widely recognized as a vital part of our economic recovery.
Engineers Week has been a resounding success for South Dublin County Council and our partners IT Tallaght, PM Group, Vilicom and Xilinx. Since 2009, students from schools all over the County have taken part in workshops based at RUA RED South Dublin County Art Centre, The County Library, IT Tallaght, and Tallaght Stadium. Over the years we have hosted thousands of students from schools throughout South Dublin County, with workshops being organized and conducted on a voluntary basis by engineers from all five partner organisations.
In addition to the workshops and shows, participants will have an opportunity to talk to academics and students from IT Tallaght, and to professional engineers from South Dublin County Council, PM Group, Vilicom and Xilinx about what engineers do and how engineering is for everyone in the community.
South Dublin County Council’s Engineers Week received national coverage from RTE on the 3rd March and the video link is available at http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/news2day-30001385/10538983/
In addition as part of National Science Week a “Science and Tech Festival” took place in County Library Tallaght and our other libraries across South Dublin County from Wednesday 4th November to Friday 20th November 2015.
Events are mainly for primary school groups and full details are available Science Week Brochure 2015
Tech Fest
Tech Fest took place for the first time at County Library Tallaght from 16th – 21st November. South Dublin Libraries teamed up with Tech Space to create this programme for children and teens encompassing STEAM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths.
Techspace is a creative space where young people are inspired to create, produce and have fun with digital technology and maker activities. Young people work on exciting creative projects and get one-to-one assistance, guidance and support from Techspace educators and volunteer mentors.
The mission is to inspire and empower young people to use their native interest in technology to master 21st century learning skills and become digital creators.