Michelle Starr PhD, Research Liaison Officer, EPI•STEM The National Centre for STEM Education, School of Education, UL.
Students from seven second-level schools in Limerick are at the forefront of shaping Ireland’s sustainable future, thanks to an innovative STEAM education project spearheaded in partnership between EPI•STEM The National Centre for STEM Education in the School of Education University of Limerick, the Hunt Museum and the Limerick Education Support Centre. This ambitious initiative—“Design a Sustainable Eco-Village in Ireland for 2050”—is inspiring young minds to reimagine the heart of Irish village life.
The project has received the endorsement of the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins. The participating schools are Nano Nagle Secondary School, Sexton Street; Thomond Community College, Moylish; Castletroy Community College; Colaiste Chiarain Croom; Crescent College Comprehensive, Dooradoyle, St. Clement’s Collge, North Circular Road and St. Munchins College, Corbally.
Through their eco-village design plan and research, the students are not only honing their problem-posing and teamwork skills but also raising their voices about how Ireland’s future public infrastructures and public services should evolve. Their designs reflect the priorities of a decent democracy, a thriving economy, and a sustainable environment, placing people and planet at the centre of community life. The participating schools are Nano Nagle Secondary School, Sexton Street; Thomond Community College, Moylish; Castletroy Community College; Colaiste Chiarain Croom; Crescent College Comprehensive, Dooradoyle, St. Clement’s Collge, North Circular Road and St. Munchins College, Corbally.
The school-university-museum-education centre partnership highlights the role of higher education in community engagement and in fostering innovation and real-world challenges. By imagining a fair and sustainable Ireland in 2050, students are proving that the next generation is ready to take on the complexities of building a greener and more inclusive society. This forward-thinking initiative underlines the humanising power of education in driving change and inspiring solutions that will leave a lasting impact on Ireland’s future.
The project team includes Professor Geraldine Mooney Simmie (Director, EPI•STEM and research expert with the European Commission’s scoping study for Education and Skills entitled “Social Transformations and Resilience Partnerships”; Dr. Michelle Starr (EPI•STEM National Centre for STEM Education); Norma O’Brien (Director, Limerick Education Support Centre); Maria Cagney and Emma King (Hunt Museum, Limerick city).
Please find below a link to a video, sponsored by EPI•STEM and made by Cloughjordan Eco-Village specifically for the project.
When you click on the link below you will be prompted to enter a passcode
The passcode is QS+e3Y@U
You can find more information about the project by emailing Michelle.Starr@ul.ie or by listening to the first five episodes of our new EPI•STEM Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epistem-podcast/id1775149946):
