Education officers from the country's leading research centres met at
the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork (UCC) recently
to discuss strategies aimed at increasing the number of science and
engineering graduates in Ireland. TREO (Third Level Research
Education and Outreach), the representative group of education and
outreach officers in Irish third level research centres, gathered to
coordinate programmes designed to attract students into careers in
science, technology and engineering.
The meeting is timely as the number of students currently tackling the
leaving certificate science papers that go on to study science and
engineering at third level, will impact on Irish economic growth.
Research and innovation are the driving force behind the government's
vision of a knowledge based economy. Aligned with this vision,
TREO has developed innovative outreach programmes aimed at students of
all ages to encourage their active participation in science.
Dr Maurice Treacy, Director Bioscience & Bioengineering, Science
Foundation Ireland, stated, "the recently launched Government Strategy
for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013, sets ambitious
targets for the Irish research community and clearly recognises the
need to stimulate interest in science throughout the educational
system. The excellent Education & Outreach initiatives
undertaken by the research centres in the third level institutions will
contribute sigificantly to encouraging young people to undertaken
research careers in science and engineering."
"Our goal is to increase participation in science and engineering
by highlighting the cutting edge research ongoing in Ireland.
TREO enables us to coordinate and build on successful outreach
activities at the various research centres we represent," says TREO
chair, Ita Murphy, Communications and Outreach Manager at the
Regenerative Medicine Institute, NUI Galway.
TREO works with students and teachers, delivering outreach programmes
such as visits to schools by researchers, research centre tours for
teachers and students, work placements and hands on outreach
programmes. For example while many teachers are looking forward
to summer holidays, 44 secondary school teachers will be spending up to
eight weeks working with researchers in third level institutions
through the Science Foundation Ireland funded STAR programme.
TREO has developed a STAR support programme to ensure that STAR
teachers get maximum benefit from their experience.
The group also organise public events to engage the public in topical
discussions about research. TREO meetings are held quarterly and
their primary focus is to accelerate progress in attracting students to
careers in science and technology, to create a culture of scientific
interest among Irish people and to share information and resources.
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