We have a bit of a conundrum in Ireland. We want to position ourselves as a tech hub for now and into the future. The “now” part may be in hand, with some of the largest multinationals choosing Ireland to set up their European operations. But to sort out the future part, we need to work on the current generation of kids.
That starts with developing an interest in science and technology. Schools play their part by introducing science and technology early in the primary school curriculum, but what else can we do to nurture an interest in STEM?
If you have been tuned in to the topic over recent months, you will have seen a lot of talk about the proposed National Children’s Science Museum. Or rather, the lack of progress on one. The plan to establish a science museum aimed at children has now been in the works for a couple of decades, with a few false starts along the way.
RTÉ Prime Time recently examined where things stand, with the plans to construct the science museum at the National Concert Hall set to cost an estimated €70 million – before the cost of any exhibits is taken into account. Regardless of the final cost, the science museum is clearly a little while off opening its doors.
In the meantime, a science-focused option is the Explorium in Sandyford, Co Dublin.
“We opened at the end of 2018, and we managed to stay open for 14 months before Covid came along,” says cofounder Charlie Kelly. “In its first year, it was so well received for that very reason, because there’s nothing like it in the country. We are one of the few countries in Europe – in the world – that hadn’t had a facility of this nature.”
But then it hit a snag. When the Explorium closed its doors for Covid in March 2020, no one imagined it would take four years for it to fully reopen. But that is exactly what happened thanks to a number of factors.
Insurance was one delay, Kelly says, with “ridiculous” premiums quoted and a lack of options in the market to shop around. The centre was looking to introduce new concepts and ideas. “It took a lot longer than we hoped,” he says.
Last January, the Junior Explorium opened offering under-sevens somewhere to explore science. That was finally followed in May by the rest of the centre. It has some new experiences, including augmented reality and virtual reality rooms, and big plans for lots more in the future. You can learn about the challenges of climate change at “Cool It”, or take a walk through the universe in augmented reality.
For older visitors – eight and over for some sections and 10 and over for the Conquer Your Fears part – there are climbing activities you can take part in from urban cityscapes to taking a leap mid air.
The core sports and science experience, however, is still the key attraction though. If you were a fan of the brain bending Gravity Room or loved the Nikola Tesla lightning show, you’ll be pleased to see that they have also returned, the latter with Mark the Science Guy still manning the keyboard and Tesla coil. You can sprint against the clock, measure how fast your penalty shot is and learn about holograms and viscosity.
There is also a sensory room for people with additional needs, which can be booked in advance.
“Our job now is to evolve and grow, and get the awareness out there,” Kelly says. “I’m sick of hearing that it’s the best kept secret in Ireland, because when people come up here, no matter who they are, they’re blown away by what is on offer up here – the scale, the quality and the range of exhibits and experiences.”
For all that, the Explorium isn’t within feasible travelling range for a lot of budding scientists. So what else is on offer out there? There is a good selection of science- and tech-focused classes and camps for younger children available across the State.
Junior Einstein
For most parents, the thought of their young child learning to make slime is one that would fill them with horror. But at Junior Einstein, that is all part of the (educational) fun. Not only do you learn about long-chain polymerisation and non-Newtonian fluids, but you also get good and messy while doing it.
Fossil-making, forensics, geology, anatomy and elephant’s toothpaste are all on the agenda, with the classes teaching children solid scientific theories and skills through fun activities. Where else could you make Barbie’s hair stand on end with a Van der Graaf generator, or light up a light sabre with a plasma ball to learn about electricity?
Junior Einstein offers the experience for kids aged from six to 11, with a mix of camps and after-school clubs, mainly located in the east and southeast of the State. The group is still running summer camps up until the third week in August at selected locations.
https://junioreinsteinsscienceclub.com/
Coder Dojo
The volunteer-led Coder Dojo experience has gone global. From its humble beginnings in Ireland in 2011, it has grown to a worldwide movement, with Dojos in the US, Singapore, Australia and more.
The concept is simple: kids with little or no coding skills and experience get together and, with the help of volunteers, learn some basic skills. It is aimed at anyone aged seven to 17 who wants to learn how to build an app or games, write code or build their own website. And while AI may eventually take over many of these skills, it’s not a bad idea to learn the basics now.
Designer Minds
Whether your kids are creative or science-minded, Designer Minds offers an outlet for those who want to tinker and build, regardless of whether their interest is in robotics, computers or art.
If it all goes well, your children get to explore a new hobby or get the confidence to pursue a future career as an engineer or scientist.
The programme has camps on around the State over holidays and mid-terms but there are also a number of regular classes held on Saturdays in Clare, Cork and Limerick throughout the year.
Bricks4Kidz
What better way to teach children about science and technology than with Lego? That’s the premise behind the Bricks4Kidz. The programme teaches kids about STEM principles through Lego-based projects which are designed to nurture critical thinking skills, problem solving and scientific vocabulary.
It runs programmes from Belfast to Cork, and offers summer camps up until August 23rd at various locations.
Aside from the camps, you can book Bricks4Kidz for birthday parties, attend workshops or have the programme come to primary and secondary schools. It is even suitable for parent and toddler classes.
https://www.bricks4kidz.ie/stem/
Steam Academy Pro
The Steam Academy has a number of different strands to its bow, including camps (finishing next week), education support and regular classes. The last is suitable for junior infants up to fifth class and older, with the activities and length of time (and cost) changing according to the age group.
As part of its schools programme, one of the critical skills Steam Academy Pro teaches children is about using tech safely, an increasingly important part of tech education that can sometimes be underestimated. That is in addition to soft skills – such as the ability to give and receive feedback – and the 21st century skills that children today will need as they get older.
https://steamacademy.pro/ireland
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