Science studio inspired by cooking show opens at UCC
Ireland’s first Science Studio has opened in UCC offering a new educational resource for students, teachers, and lovers of science, and it’s all inspired by a famous cooking show!
The €400,000 studio, which opened during Science Week this month, will give students of all ages the opportunity to watch lab work remotely and participate in virtual reality demonstrations.
Based in UCC’s Kane Building, the studio is a fully functioning science laboratory and is equipped with the latest audio-visual technology including 4K definition cameras embedded in the ceilings and walls of the sound proofed room.
“Think ‘Masterchef for Science’,” said Dr Eric Moore of UCC’s College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science. “Instead of baking cakes or cooking delicious dinners we can now do live experiments ranging from chemistry, biology, food science, and engineering.
“The facility will have smart cameras integrated throughout the room, in the fumehood, biosafety cabinet, laminar flow hood, and ceilings. This means the audience will have several camera view options available to them, thus offering an interactive experience,” he added.
The smart device-driven Science Studio will have the capability to create premium video content for the TikTok generation and it is hoped that the space will provide outreach opportunities to primary and secondary school teachers, as well as educating UCC’s STEM students.
Using the studio, research students will be enabled and encouraged to create bespoke short 60-90 second video content of their research.
The studio also features a wheelchair accessible bench space.
UCC President Prof John O’Halloran said the facility will help to revolutionise how students are taught STEM subjects at UCC.
“Projects like this can advance the inclusion agenda in our universities, helping to widen participation in STEM and prepare our graduates to be industry-ready,” said Mr O’Halloran.
Prof Sarah Culloty, Head of the College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science said the Science Studio offers an inclusive and accessible educational environment for students in the heart of UCC's campus, while providing exciting opportunities for innovation.
The development of the studio was supported by Pillar 3 of the Higher Education Authority’s Human Capital Initiative, and was led by Dr Eric Moore.
Dr Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills and Engagement at Higher Education Authority, said: “It’s always very rewarding to see how innovative and collaborative the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3 projects are, and how the investment is being put to such good use.
“The virtual nature of this development means it will be hugely beneficial beyond its walls, and will be a welcome addition to our work of increasing supply of enterprise focused skills and talent.”