Primary schools to open Engineering in a Box pilot programme

Life

PIctured: Daniel Ryan, Jill Roberts and Aisling O'Mahon from Shanbally National School, Cork take on the Engineering in a Box pilot programme

To coincide with Engineers Week, STEAM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Applied Maths), in collaboration with the MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy, has launched Engineering in a Box – a 10-week programme designed to teach 9-13 year olds about engineering using innovative, hands-on activities.

The programme was designed in collaboration with researchers and engineers from the MaREI Centre for marine and renewable energy in Ringaskiddy, Cork which combines the expertise of a range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared mission of solving the main technical and socio-economic challenges across the marine and energy spaces.

The programme will explore aspects of civil, chemical/process; mechanical/aeronautical; energy/electrical; biomedical; applied/computer; environmental; electronic engineering and more.

“Engineering in a Box provides lesson plans, all relevant materials and supporting resources, online support as well as well expert mentoring for primary schools,” said Dr Alice D’Arcy, course director, STEAM Education.

“The programme will be co-taught by engineering PhDs and industry personnel from relevant sectors with the primary school teachers, in a team-orientated creative way that will engage with young students. Co-teaching maximises the benefits for the kids, the teachers and the PhD/industry personnel.”

Donal Murray, Engineering in a Box principal programme designer and research engineer at MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy, added: “Engineering is problem-solving. We want to give kids a chance to look at problem-solving in many different ways and create solutions to issues humanity has encountered throughout history and ones that engineers continually solve throughout the world today in ever-changing circumstances. We also want them to have fun and develop some skills that will help themselves and everyone in the future.”

The pilot programme is sponsored by Cork-based companies including DePuy Synthes, Styker and Boston Scientific.

STEAM Education is a start-up business operating out of the Gateway Innovation Centre in the Western Gateway Building in UCC, and working in collaboration with UCC and other universities.

TechCentral Reporters

Read More: Education Engineering in a Box MaREI STEAM Education