Mayo students to benefit from new science education programme

STUDENTS attending Coláiste Pobail Acla in Achill and Coláiste Chomáin in Erris will be among the first to benefit from a new programme that aims to help with the teaching of biology, chemistry and natural sciences. 

This follows the inclusion of teachers from among the early participants in Amgen Teach, a programme which provides training to boost the skills and confidence of teachers, transforming the science classroom experience for their students. 

Amgen Teach is one of two new science education programmes announced for Ireland by leading biotechnology company Amgen and its philanthropic arm, the Amgen Foundation. Over the course of the coming academic year the two programmes are set to impact on approximately 15,000 students across Ireland. The second new programme, which empowers teachers to bring biotechnology into their classrooms, is entitled the Amgen Biotech Experience. 

Over the full three-year commitment of these programmes, Amgen Teach and the Amgen Biotech Experience are expected to positively impact approximately 53,000 students and nearly 500 teachers in Ireland. 

The two programmes, together with details of the Amgen Scholars 2015 Ireland recipients, were announced at an event to mark the opening of the new $300 million Amgen facility in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. 

Congratulating Amgen for its support of science education, Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, said: “Globally, Ireland now ranks in the top 20 countries for science excellence. Developing collaborative partnerships with leading companies, such as Amgen, to support science education and world-class research will ensure we continue to nurture the next generation of Irish scientists and researchers, enhancing collaboration with enterprise and providing a strong voice for the promotion and support of science, biotechnology and research in Ireland.”