School–University–Museum Partnership Recognised for Sustainable Innovation at UL Citizens’ Assembly

We’re proud to share that our School-University-Museum partnership project, led by EPI•STEM, was shortlisted and showcased as part of the prestigious UL Citizens’ Assembly, highlighting impactful community engagement initiatives that contribute to building a sustainable future for Limerick.

Our initiative, titled “Design a Sustainable Village in Ireland for 2050,” was one of nine innovative projects selected from across the University of Limerick’s community engagement portfolio. This recognition speaks to the strength of our collaboration and the project’s capacity to inspire meaningful change through education, creativity, and cross-sector partnerships.

This innovative STEAM education project was developed through a dynamic partnership between EPI•STEM – The National Centre for STEM Education, the Hunt Museum, and the Limerick Education Support Centre. Together, we engaged students from six post-primary schools across Limerick, encouraging them to adopt the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reimagine the future of Irish communities—creating visions of villages and towns that are inclusive, environmentally responsible, and socially just.

Presenting the project on the day on behalf of the team, were Dr. Michelle Starr EPI•STEM, Ms Emma King, the Hunt Museum, Mr. Michael Delohery, Art Teacher and students: Marija Galinovska, Anastasija Golovina and Andrew Svetlitsnoi from Colaiste Chiarain Croom. Placing 4th overall was a proud moment for the entire project team—a testament to the creativity, hard work, and real-world relevance of this initiative. By bringing together students, educators, university researchers, and museum professionals, we imagined Irish villages of the future—integrating green energy, public infrastructure, sustainable environments and social justice as central pillars of community life in 2050.

The UL Citizens’ Assembly took place at the striking Hanging Gardens Events’ Room on Henry Street, Limerick, where members of the public, and community leaders gathered to engage with future-focused research. We were thrilled by the enthusiastic response and dialogue around our vision for sustainable community living.

Now in its third year, the UL Citizens’ Assembly has become a pioneering model of university–community collaboration, amplifying the voices of Limerick’s citizens and aligning UL research with the UN SDGs. It’s a vital platform for showcasing the impact of civic engagement in shaping our collective future.

A heartfelt thank you to our enterprise partners—ESB, Eli Lilly, Boston Scientific, SEROSEP, and Analog Devices—for their invaluable support along the way. We look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to advance STEAM education and promote sustainability for a socially just and connected Ireland.

Logic Model: Design a Sustainable Eco Village in Ireland for 2050

Compiled by Professor Geraldine Mooney-Simmie and Dr. Michelle Starr