More than 40 students from six Limerick post-primary schools gathered in the Foundation Building at the University of Limerick to present their visionary designs for a sustainable Ireland in 2050. The occasion marked the Awards Ceremony of the “Design a Sustainable Village in Ireland for 2050” project—an ambitious STEAM education initiative that brings together schools, universities, and museums to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: building a just and sustainable future.

Launched officially by Councillor Pádraig Reale, deputising for Mayor John Moran, the event celebrated the innovation, creativity, and environmental leadership of students from Castletroy College, Coláiste Chiaráin, Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, Coláiste Nano Nagle, St. Munchin’s College, and Thomond Community College. Each student team presented their concept of an eco-village through a range of engaging formats including posters, videos, and physical artefacts. These designs reflected deep thinking around green housing, public infrastructure, renewable energy, biodiversity, and inclusive community spaces—all developed with a 2050 vision in mind.

“We are at a crucial crossroads in Ireland and Europe today,” said Professor Geraldine Mooney Simmie, Director of EPI•STEM, the National Centre for STEM Education. “The young people today have shown just how innovative they can be when it comes to finding sustainable solutions to the problems of green housing, public infrastructure and energy.”

The students’ visionary projects were also exhibited in the Hunt Museum throughout the month of April, offering the wider public a unique opportunity to engage with their ideas. This exhibition not only showcased the students’ creativity and research but also invited the public to reflect on what a sustainable Ireland might look like—and to have their own voices heard in shaping that future.

The project’s unique strength lies in its cross-curricular and collaborative approach. A team of twelve dedicated teachers from diverse disciplines—including science, engineering, chemistry, coding, art, economics and social sciences—guided the student groups in their research and design process. While the majority of participants were Transition Year students, one group of Second Year students also took part, reflecting the broad educational reach of the initiative.

The project is a partnership between:

• EPI•STEM, National Centre for STEM Education, University of Limerick
• The Hunt Museum, Limerick
• Limerick Education Support Centre

It is co-led by Professor Geraldine Mooney Simmie and Dr. Michelle Starr (EPI•STEM), in collaboration with Maria Cagney (Curator) and Emma King (Education Officer) of the Hunt Museum, and Norma O’Brien, Director of the Limerick Education Support Centre.

Students were invited to imagine a future where environmental and social justice shape daily life in Irish villages. Their work not only highlighted sustainable architecture and green technologies, but also prioritised inclusivity, community wellbeing, and democratic participation—placing people and planet at the centre of their designs. This school-university-museum-education centre partnership underscores the transformative role education plays in addressing real-world problems and fostering leadership among youth.

The project benefited greatly from the support of Veronica Ryan from Cloughjordan Eco Village, one of Ireland’s leading intentional sustainable communities. Veronica shared her expertise through an educational video (available on epistem.ie), offering students a real-life example of how eco-villages operate in practice. Her insights into community living, renewable energy, local food systems, and sustainable design provided valuable inspiration and context for the students as they developed their own visions for a sustainable village in Ireland for 2050.

The awards ceremony was made possible by the generous support of five local enterprises: Analog Devices, Boston Scientific, Eli Lilly, ESB, and Serosep. These sponsors recognised the importance of empowering young people to lead Ireland’s green transition.

Adding a special touch to the day was a video message from Dermot Bannon, architect and RTÉ One personality, who praised the students for their innovative ideas and commitment to designing a better future.

“By imagining a sustainable Ireland in 2050,” said Dr. Michelle Starr, “these students are proving that the next generation is ready to take on the complexities of building a greener and more inclusive society.”

Spotlight on Student Voices: EPI•STEM Podcast

The power of student voice was further amplified through three special episodes of the EPI•STEM Podcast, hosted by Professor Geraldine Mooney Simmie and Dr. Michelle Starr.

Edel Farrell, the physics teacher and three Transition Year students, Felix Nabor, Masha Galinovska and Andrew Szetlitsvoi from the post-primary school, Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom Co. Limerick joined us in Episode 16 of the EPI•STEM Podcast. Here the physics teacher and TY students share the vision of their futuristic design, the multiple ways they developed a sustainability mindset during the project.

In Episode 17, the hosts welcomed guests from Thomond Community College: Shaun Donegan, engineering teacher, and Transition Year students Patrick Rwasibo and Josh Cronin, who discussed their eco-village project and how the experience shaped their understanding of sustainability and teamwork.

In Episode 18, the conversation continued with Conor Bourke, chemistry and biology teacher at Coláiste Nano Nagle, and Second Year students Marina Alphonsa and Areej Elgenaidi, who shared their design ideas and reflected on how the project helped them develop a justice-oriented mindset through STEAM education.

Across the three episodes, students and teachers explore the importance of planning, doing, and reflecting together—using science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to imagine a more equitable and sustainable Ireland.

The Hunt Museum

Coláiste Chiaráin​ Croom

Thomond Community College

Coláiste Nano Nagle

St. Munchin’s College​

Crescent Comprehensive

Castletroy Community College

 The Awards Ceremony ​