Funding for STEM projects

The funding was approved by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under the SFI Discover programme which aims to increase participation in STEM careers and discussions in all age groups across the country.

Both projects set out to highlight the value of STEM literacy in today’s society and were developed with an emphasis on accessibility, with Irish sign language provided where required, and collaboration with underrepresented groups to reach audiences that do not normally engage with STEM activities.

The Sustainable Space project, led by the Blackrock Castle Observatory, will engage with key partners to discuss the positive contribution of space to solving sustainability issues on earth, and on the sustainable use of space itself.

A highlight of the project is SPACE week in October which will be a focal point for these discussions.

The project will take advantage of lessons learned during the pandemic to reach underrepresented groups more effectively than before.

The Cyber Futures initiative will engage young people, improving their resilience and awareness of cybersecurity, as well as showcasing the wide range of potential career options and pathways in the field.

A key aspect of Cyber Futures is its Cyber Security Academy, which is a free, week-long training and education programme targeted towards transition and 5th year students, taking place online in June.

As part of this programme students will learn about cyber security, ethical hacking, cryptography and more.

MTU President Prof. Maggie Cusack welcomed the funding.

She explained: “Making STEM education more accessible leads to better informed citizens and better-informed learners, empowering them to explore the many exciting careers in the STEM sectors.”

The 2 projects will collaborate with each other, designing a space-themed capture-the-flag event that will give the students an insight into both STEM in space and cybersecurity challenges.