Growing Science in the Midlands with The Ireland Funds
”Encourage the young and they will flourish“ is an old Irish proverb. Perhaps a modern variation might be: “Encourage the young with science and they will flourish”. For over 10 years now, through various grants and guidance, The Ireland Funds has supported Midlands Science in its vital work promoting science, technology, engineering and maths [STEM] education across the midlands of Ireland. Through fun, hands-on curriculum mapped activities, Midlands Science delivers STEM outreach which is focussed on building confidence, capacity and creativity among all of its participants. The region covers the four midlands counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. The organisation is particularly aware in its programme delivery of the need to reach those who may not usually engage with STEM due to issues of socio-economic disadvantage and associated issues.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY with STEM
According to CEO of Midlands Science Jackie Gorman, this is an important focus; “ Science is in everything in our society and science serves society in so many ways. Therefore, we passionately believe that science should reflect society fully. We reach about 16,000 people per annum and have two core objectives – to create more interest in STEM education and careers but also to build a community that understands STEM. We all make decisions every day that demand some sort of scientific literacy and we believe this is an emerging right if we want to have communities of engaged citizens. A community that values and understands STEM is a good thing. It’s about the diverse workforce of the future but also making good decisions based on evidence.”
THE IRELAND FUNDS IMPACTFUL SUPPORT
Starting off with funding in 2013, which focussed on STEM outreach and maths education, Midlands Science’s impactful work in STEM has been supported by The Ireland Funds in a variety of different ways. Through a series of small grants, multi-annual funding and donor advised gifts from The Ireland Funds, Midlands Science has grown its reach, capacity and impact. Everyone knows STEM is important and it’s a national policy focus in Ireland but, in the midlands, STEM education and skills are going to be a vital part of the region’s transition from an economy based on extracting peat for the generation of electricity, to the green jobs which are coming. For a region in transition, STEM education is a vital tool for what is coming next in terms of new economic opportunities and how these can benefit as many people as possible.The support of The Ireland Funds and its donors has played a seminal role in Midland Science’s success. This support has allowed the organisation to grow its reach and impact in a way that is sustainable, diversifying its funding base and also growing new audiences for its work. Over the past number of years, Midlands Science has not only grown its reach and impact but has undertaken targeted measures to reach those who have not engaged as much with STEM in the past such as groups from the Travelling Community and adult learners.
EXPANSION, OUTREACH, and VISIBILITY
Midland Science, encouraged by feedback from many stakeholders, has also begun to compile its own practice in science outreach. This has allowed it to present papers at national and European level on the impact of its work and the uniqueness of its approach. This has included presentations at the Irish Oireachtas [Parliament] and EUSEA, the European Association for Public Engagement with Science. The sharing of best practice has been facilitated through support from Research Ireland which allowed Midlands Science to work with University College London’s Science Capital Research team and provide training to over 60 organisations across Ireland relating to inclusion and science outreach.
It also developed a best practice to accessibility in science outreach guide, supported by the Medtronic Foundation, and over 5,000 copies of the guide have been circulated. In addition, a series of training sessions were provided to share best practice with the Goliath Trust in Belfast, supported by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund [Department Foreign Affairs]. This work of sharing best practice is complimentary to the continued work of delivering excellent STEM outreach in the midlands. Sharing best practice allows others across Ireland to benefit from tried and tested approaches and it also is the natural evolution of the organisation’s development in line with its strategy to influence the policy and practice of science outreach. The delivery of the work itself and the associated advocacy around best practice is about creating outreach that is focussed not just on the numbers engaged with, but also the equity and diversity within those numbers.
The support of The Ireland Funds through these various stages of development has been really important. According to CEO Jackie Gorman, “The Ireland Funds understands how long-term strategic development happens. Rather than requesting a different project every year, they are interested in strategy and what is working well. Their approach includes asking open and encouraging questions, which is very helpful. Their ability to recognise and support the importance of STEM in the midlands region, a region undergoing huge changes due to decarbonisation measures, has been vital. We engage people with science with everything from astronomy to zoology, from asteroids to dinosaurs, it’s all about curiosity. The engaged and supportive approach of The Ireland Funds is truly unique and has been crucial in our success to date.”
