Primary school children in Loughrea, Rosscahil and Oranmore will head to Mary Immaculate College in Limerick for ESB Science Blast starting on Tuesday, 23 May.
The STEM-focused education programme delivered by the RDS involves whole classes investigating the science behind a simple question, such as ‘What would happen if all the trees in the world were cut down?’.
Applications for the Limerick event closed with over 100 schools from across the country applying for the programme, which encourages critical thinking and collaboration.
Students from Oranmore Boys National School will investigate the benefits of wind energy, while St. Annin’s National School, Rosscahill pupils will explore how our senses affect how we taste food.
Mullagh National School, Loughrea will answer the question, ‘Do any of your other senses influence your sense of taste’?
Speaking ahead of the Limerick event, Geraldine Ruane, Chief Executive of the RDS, said that the high number of entries shows that there is a strong interest in STEM subjects from both teachers and primary school students across Ireland.
“ESB Science Blast, a core programme with the RDS Foundation, is a brilliant avenue to introduce children, at an early stage in their education, to the fun and excitement that learning through STEM can bring,” she said.
“While we are building the ESB Science Blast Programme on the success of the last four years, we are really building upon a much deeper engagement in science education by the RDS, one that goes back nearly 300 years.
“Our investment in this education programme is a long-term investment in the future of Irish society. There was a great atmosphere at the RDS in Dublin and in the ICC in Belfast with lots of fun and learning happening and we’re looking forward to bringing that same experience to Limerick.”
Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive of ESB, said ESB Science Blast is unique in that it engages children in STEM learning in a way that is fun and engaging.
The future of our planet and society depends on our collective ability to question the world around us and find new solutions to the challenges we face,” he said.
“Through this programme, children of all backgrounds and abilities are developing critical life skills that will help them to become not only innovative and creative problem solvers, but also active, informed and fully engaged citizens.”
The ESB Science Blast showcase in Limerick will be the final event in the series which included two previous events in Dublin and Belfast.
