Beulah McManus

I am now into my 6^th year here in the University of Limerick. I first came to UL in 2009 when I was beginning my undergraduate Bachelor of Science Education in Physics and Chemistry degree.

I graduated from this 4 years later and decided to continue my studies in science education by undertaking a PhD study on students’ motivation in science at second-level, under the supervision of Dr Peter E. Childs. Since then, I have also gotten involved in many other projects and tutoring work in UL. I have become part of the University of Limerick team on the EU FP7 Science in Society Project called TEMI (Teaching Enquiry with Mysteries Incorporated). This project is centred on inquiry-based teaching and learning and will complement my work on my PhD as I plan to investigate the benefits of implementing inquiry-based science education (IBSE) on student motivation in Junior Certificate science.

For the past year, I have also been working in the UL Science Learning Centre, part-time, as a chemistry tutor under the coordinator, Gráinne Walsh. In addition to this, since October 2013, I have had the opportunity to travel to secondary schools throughout Munster, one day per week, performing Science Magic Shows which are aimed at first – fourth year second-level science students. The purpose of these Science Magic Shows is to engage students in science and to encourage them to take science subjects for the Leaving Certificate.

If there is anything that you would like to discuss, from my research project, to the TEMI project or even the Science Magic Shows, please get in touch by sending me email at Beulah.Mcmanus@ul.ie

Caption: Beulah McManus (Epi•Stem) demonstrates a variation of the cornflour bomb at the SSPC Chemistry Demonstration Workshop 2014. Photo: Seán Curtin