A total of 20 primary schools across Donegal have received awards celebrating their achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris announced the schools in Donegal will be awarded the 2023 Curious Minds Award, celebrating primary schools across Ireland that have adopted innovative approaches to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) learning and engagement.
(Pictured above are pupils from Cloughfin National School in Ballindrait, Lifford with their Gold Award for STEM success.)
Announcing the 2023 Curious Mind Awards, Minister Simon Harris, TD, said “I am delighted to announce the 20 winners of this year’s SFI Curious Minds Awards from Donegal. I want to congratulate all involved for their hard work and enthusiasm. Through programmes such as the Curious Minds Awards, we see first-hand teachers and schools empowering curiosity through a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to STEM learning.”
“The high level of engagement this year can be credited to the schools and teachers who have put effort into giving their students access to STEM in a fun, interactive and educational way.”
The Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) programme, run in conjunction with the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO), aims to increase interest in STEM among primary school students, parents, and teachers nationwide in a fun and interactive way.
The awards were granted for a wide range of innovative and engaging STEM activities from investigating renewable energy, growing vegetables, mini-beast hunts, learning about materials and maths through baking, design and make challenges, marble runs, enhancing their technology skills through coding, and using STEM to solve everyday problems.
Primary Schools received awards in three categories: The Silver Award, recognising schools entering for the first time; the Gold Award, for schools further along their STEM journey; and the Platinum Award, for schools who have achieved previous awards and want to integrate STEM into the community further.
This year, 16 Donegal schools received the Gold Award and four received the Silver Award.
Commenting on the awards, Professor Philip Nolan, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland said: “At Science Foundation Ireland, we are committed to making science accessible to all. Introducing students to science in a practical, hands-on, enjoyable and interactive way, tapping into and nurturing their natural curiosity, is a core objective for SFI as we continue to break down barriers to engaging young people in STEM. The Curious Minds Awards are a perfect way to motivate students’ interest in STEM in the classroom. It is extremely positive to see so many primary schools in Donegal taking part, and I congratulate all the teachers, schools and parents for their commitment to STEM.”
Winners:
Gold
- Creeslough National School, Creeslough – Gold Award
- Cloughfin National School, Lifford – Gold Award
- Scoil Naomh Fiachra – Gold Award
- Inver National School (N.S.) – Gold Award
- Scoil Fhionáin – Gold Award
- Robertson National School – Gold Award
- Dromore National School – Gold Award
- Scoil An Linbh Íosa – Gold Award
- Scoil Adhamhnáin – Gold Award
- Scoil Naisiunta Crannaighe Buidhe – Gold Award
- Scoil Naisiunta Muire Gan Smal – Gold Award
- Min A Ghabhann National School – Gold Award
- Scoil Naomh Fionán – Gold Award
- Scoil Naisiunta Chill Coinnigh – Gold Award
- Scoil Cholmcille Máigh Rua – Gold Award
- Gaelscoil Na Gceithre Máistrí – Gold Award
Silver
- Glenswilly National School – Silver Award
- Scoil Cholmcille – Silver Award
- Scoil An Chaisil – Silver Award
- Scoil Mhuire B&C, Stranorlar – Silver Award
