Quote from a happy attendee of our Bubble Show
Midlands Science
Midlands Science is a not-for-profit company which works to create greater interest in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths] education and skills among students, teachers and members of the public in the Midlands [Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath].
It is funded by a mixture of public, private and philanthropic funding. Our objective is to grow the level of engagement that our community has with science, this includes students, teachers, parents and members of the general public. Our work is informed by the concept of Science Capital, which shows that the variety and quality of interactions a person has with science in their life informs their life long relationship with science in terms of further education and career choice. This means we are also conscious that some groups of people find it more difficult to engage with science and we address this through how our work is delivered in the midlands region. We reach over 16,000 people directly per annum and our work has been independently and positively evaluated and found to be impactful, creative and innovative.
Exploring Science
In addition to our annual Midlands Science Festival which is now heading into its 8th year, Midlands Science is responsible for delivering a number of other outreach activities all year round. This includes Primary and Secondary School outreach, STEAM activities, Science With Inspirational Mentors, Quiet Science, Science Capital training and activities for Engineer’s Week, Tech Week and Maths Week, Midlands Science has built a strong and proven track record in the development of these initiatives through close partnerships with schools, development agencies, sponsors and other stakeholders.
STEM Challenge
We aim to build public awareness of the importance of science in everyday life and to increase dialogue about science and technology throughout the region. Through our network of expert scientists and skilled speakers we try to provide as many opportunities as possible for people of all ages to have direct interactions with real science. Our aim is to grow interest in STEM by presenting high-quality educational and entertaining events.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported our work to promote STEM education and skills in the midlands. We are working hand in hand with some of the most amazing speakers & performers to communicate the key message that science is all around us in everyday life & is a fantastic career option for young people to consider. Throughout the year we set out to show people from four years old upwards that science can be fun, inspiring & eye opening as well as educational & important for our region.
– Jackie Gorman, Midlands Science
The Midlands Science Festival 2019 Review
With almost 130 events ranging from hands-on Harry Potter and dinosaur science to computer science lessons, space exploration, climate change and travels to Chernobyl there really was something for everyone during this year’s Midlands Science Festival.
The festival which kicked off on November 9th as part of national Science Week for a full 13 days provided a series of fun and educational science based activities across the region. This festival is all about taking science out traditional environments such as the school laboratory and into other everyday places so that people of all ages have the opportunity to see just how much science is all around us and in most of the things we do in life.
The organisers of the Midlands Science Festival wish to thank all speakers, workshop providers, schools and the public, many of whom travelled from beyond the region to attend some of the events which took place this year.
We have been overwhelmed by the level of enthusiasm and goodwill from our partners, local media, venues and many other organisations and individuals from Midlands and further afield. The large public turnout totalling over 9,000 in attendance at all of the events shows the appetite for this type of regional event and after another successful year, we can hopefully look forward to bringing the Midlands Science Festival back to this region again.
https://www.midlandsscience.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/meadow.jpg 730 750 Gillian Maunsell https://www.midlandsscience.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/logo.png Gillian Maunsell2020-05-22 13:14:022020-05-22 13:14:02Celebrating Biodiversity – the science of life on earth
https://www.midlandsscience.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Dr-Niamh-Shaw-Abbott-Aspire-1374-002--scaled.jpg 1365 2048 Gillian Maunsell https://www.midlandsscience.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/logo.png Gillian Maunsell2020-04-28 08:32:572020-04-28 08:34:45Exciting Events later this year with Popular Science CommunicatorIt is our belief that once an appreciation of maths and a curiosity of science is established, often through fun activities such as maths trails or attending Midlands Science events, it will stay with them forever and indeed many of our past pupils have taken up careers in the world of science and maths.
– Fionnuala Doheny, Principal