The best way to get people into science is to start early, writes Dick Ahlstrom
Noise, energy and, with luck, a new-found interest in science are the orders of the day in the growing Primary Science Clubs programme. Institutes of technology across the country are hosting science-club "display days" this month that bring together club members between eight and 12 years old to show how much they have learned.
The programme, which is run under Forfás's science, technology and innovation awareness programme, began last year with a pilot scheme involving four institutes and 40 schools, says Stephanie O'Neill, who manages the awareness programme. It has grown this year to include nine institutes, St Patrick's College in Drumcondra and 140 schools.
"The amount of work that the institutes of technology and the primary teachers have put in is phenomenal," she says. "We are doing it to show the kids how much fun science can be and get them interested in science during their primary-school years."
The schools are invited to set up science clubs to help their pupils develop an interest in science. "Essentially it is to instil a love of science in the children and show them how important science is to their daily lives," says O'Neill.
Schools are given activity packs with suggestions for science activities, lists of inexpensive equipment and notes to help teachers explain the science behind the activities.
You can get more information about the Primary Science Clubs programme from the Forfás website, at www.forfas.ie, or by going to www.science.ie and selecting Primary Science Clubs in the Quick Navigation menu.