Praise for Mayo winners of Curious Minds awards
A Mayo TD has congratulated 18 local primary school children awarded Curious Minds Awards.
Deputy Alan Dillon paid tribute to the pupils from schools across the county who will be presented with their gold and platinum awards, having adopted innovative approaches to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) learning and engagement.
The Mayo pupils who received awards are:
•Vanessa Sheridan, Scoil Phadraig, Westport
•Leona Conway, Scoil Naomh Bhríde, Westport
•Arlene Cahill, Cloonliffen NS, Ballinrobe
•Rhiana Barrett, Knock NS
•Venessa Ní Ghearbháin, SN Corrchlock, Belmullet
•Pauline Feeney, SN Muine Chonalláin, Ballina
•Catherine Presnail, St Feichín NS, Cross
•Marie Gormley, Scoil Naomh Brid, Ballycastle
•Jimmy Byrne, Culleens NS, Ballina
•Dervla Hegarty, Scoil Néifinn, Ballina
•Paula May, St Joseph’s NS, Ballinrobe
•Dawn McHugh, SN Croi Muire, Belmullet
•Marianne Forde, Scoil Chomáin Naofa, Hollymount
•Edel Canny, Robeen NS, Hollymount
•Colm Ó Conghaile, Caelscoil Na Cruaiche, Westport
•Deirdre Rush, St John’s NS, Claremorris
•Farnan Harte, Ardagh NS, Ballina
•Sinéad Gallagher, Tamhnaigh an Fheadha, Charlestown
The Science Foundation Ireland’s 2023 Curious Minds Awards were announced today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris.
A total of 422 primary school were awarded silver, gold and platinum awards.
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.
Deputy Dillon said: “I am delighted that so many students from Mayo have received these awards.
"I want to congratulate them for their hard work and enthusiasm. Much credit must also go to their teachers who have put effort into giving their students access to STEM in a fun, interactive and educational way.”