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News 2023
Ireland's first Science Studio opens in UCC
Ireland’s first ‘Science Studio’ has opened in the Kane Science Building, UCC offering a stunning new educational resource for students, teachers, industry and beyond.
Science students from primary school pupils to post-graduates will have the opportunity to watch lab work remotely and participate in virtual reality demonstrations, as the €400,000 studio opened in UCC during Science Week.
‘Think Masterchef for Science’ stated Dr Eric Moore, School of Chemistry, UCC.
“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 said.
Based in the Kane Building, the Science 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. The smart device-driven Science Studio will have the capability to create premium video content for the TikTok generation and t is envisaged that the space will provide outreach opportunities to Primary and Secondary School teachers, as well as educating UCC’s STEM students.
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.
Among the features of the studio are:
· Fully functional smart recording capability through the studio using multiple 4K resolution cameras
· Reduced background noise with soundproofing measures in place
· A flexible workstation in centre of the laboratory
· A wheelchair accessible bench space
The Science Studio will be a transformative space that will enable UCC staff, researchers and students to film live experiments, helping to broaden participation in STEM, while showcasing the university’s research in new and innovative ways.
Research students will be empowered to create bespoke short 60-90 second video content of their research. UCC will ensure the inter-institutional development (Virtual Labs (UCC, MU, DkIT, TUS and DCU)), the Science Studio will be open access.
UCC President Prof. John O’Halloran said:
“We are grateful to the Higher Education Authority for supporting this facility - the first of its kind in Ireland - which 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.”
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 our students in the heart of UCC's campus. It provides exciting opportunities for innovation in teaching and learning, while also enhancing our research offering".
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 Higher Education Authority is delighted to see another ‘first’ in the form of UCC’s Science Studio and we wish Dr Eric Moore and all the staff and students the best in the new facility. 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.”
Professor Anita Maguire, Head of UCC's School of Chemistry added:
“This infrastructure, as part of the national Virtual Labs initiative, supported by the HEA through the HCI programme, offers significant potential to revolutionise the ways in which our undergraduate and postgraduate students learn and explore new concepts, and enrich the School’s outreach to first and second level students to inspire future generation of STEM leaders. In addition, the Science Studio will enable our researchers to generate high quality video content to raise the profile of their research nationally and internationally. We look forward to further collaboration with our colleagues in Virtual Labs across the HEA landscape – DCU, TUS, Dundalk IT led through Maynooth University.”