good evening it’s great to be here bit nervous but really good to be here
bit nervous but really good to be here
bit nervous but really good to be here so what I hope to do today is to tell
so what I hope to do today is to tell
so what I hope to do today is to tell you a small story a short story and it’s
you a small story a short story and it’s
you a small story a short story and it’s about our future as seen through the
about our future as seen through the
about our future as seen through the eyes of young children especially the
eyes of young children especially the
eyes of young children especially the young children of South County Dublin so
young children of South County Dublin so
young children of South County Dublin so one of the things that we know about the
one of the things that we know about the
one of the things that we know about the future is that it will be technological
future is that it will be technological
future is that it will be technological we know it will be advanced we also know
we know it will be advanced we also know
we know it will be advanced we also know we have a feel for the fact that
we have a feel for the fact that
we have a feel for the fact that technology is advancing at an
technology is advancing at an
technology is advancing at an ever-increasing rate now you would think
ever-increasing rate now you would think
ever-increasing rate now you would think being an engineer and talking to
being an engineer and talking to
being an engineer and talking to students about the future of Engineering
students about the future of Engineering
students about the future of Engineering and Technology that I’d be quite
and Technology that I’d be quite
and Technology that I’d be quite comfortable with this concept of the
comfortable with this concept of the
comfortable with this concept of the future the technological future however
future the technological future however
future the technological future however one of the things I am struck by is just
one of the things I am struck by is just
one of the things I am struck by is just how fast technology is moving so I will
how fast technology is moving so I will
how fast technology is moving so I will talk to students all the time about
talk to students all the time about
talk to students all the time about their role in the future as a
their role in the future as a
their role in the future as a professional engineer but I am truly
professional engineer but I am truly
professional engineer but I am truly afraid of just how fast it moves when I
afraid of just how fast it moves when I
afraid of just how fast it moves when I first went into cata into the college or
first went into cata into the college or
first went into cata into the college or university computers were just arriving
university computers were just arriving
university computers were just arriving now we have computing devices nearly
now we have computing devices nearly
now we have computing devices nearly everywhere and you can access the
everywhere and you can access the
everywhere and you can access the internet almost anywhere that you are
internet almost anywhere that you are
internet almost anywhere that you are through your handheld devices now one of
through your handheld devices now one of
through your handheld devices now one of the other things that I do
the other things that I do
the other things that I do as part of my my job my career is to try
as part of my my job my career is to try
as part of my my job my career is to try to encourage young children to take up a
to encourage young children to take up a
to encourage young children to take up a career in stem so one of the things I
career in stem so one of the things I
career in stem so one of the things I have to do as part of that is to read
have to do as part of that is to read
have to do as part of that is to read reports that talk about why children
reports that talk about why children
reports that talk about why children choose stem so science technology
choose stem so science technology
choose stem so science technology engineering and mathematical disciplines
engineering and mathematical disciplines
engineering and mathematical disciplines and again one of the thing that strikes
and again one of the thing that strikes
and again one of the thing that strikes a little bit of fear into my heart is
a little bit of fear into my heart is
a little bit of fear into my heart is when you read reports that say that
when you read reports that say that
when you read reports that say that depending on where a child lives so
depending on where a child lives so
depending on where a child lives so their geographical location depending on
their geographical location depending on
their geographical location depending on their sex whether they’re male or female
their sex whether they’re male or female
their sex whether they’re male or female depending on the if you like the skills
depending on the if you like the skills
depending on the if you like the skills the the interest in stem around them has
the the interest in stem around them has
the the interest in stem around them has a massive impact on whether they will
a massive impact on whether they will
a massive impact on whether they will actually choose the STEM disciplines so
actually choose the STEM disciplines so
actually choose the STEM disciplines so one of the things that these reports
one of the things that these reports
one of the things that these reports found is that science capital if you
found is that science capital if you
found is that science capital if you like the science interest the knowledge
like the science interest the knowledge
like the science interest the knowledge the skills that Sorel
the skills that Sorel
the skills that Sorel a child has a massive influence upon
a child has a massive influence upon
a child has a massive influence upon whether they will choose a future career
whether they will choose a future career
whether they will choose a future career in stem
in stem
in stem now also slightly worrying is that
now also slightly worrying is that
now also slightly worrying is that children are making that decision to
children are making that decision to
children are making that decision to follow a stem career very very early so
follow a stem career very very early so
follow a stem career very very early so if a child has chosen or in a high
if a child has chosen or in a high
if a child has chosen or in a high science capital family and they choose
science capital family and they choose
science capital family and they choose stem by the age of about 10 they will
stem by the age of about 10 they will
stem by the age of about 10 they will generally tend to persist with that
generally tend to persist with that
generally tend to persist with that decision if they choose non-stem they
decision if they choose non-stem they
decision if they choose non-stem they will also tend to persist in that
will also tend to persist in that
will also tend to persist in that decision the worrying thing is that if a
decision the worrying thing is that if a
decision the worrying thing is that if a child’s from a low science capital
child’s from a low science capital
child’s from a low science capital family does not choose by the age of 10
family does not choose by the age of 10
family does not choose by the age of 10 then their to the stem discipline by the
then their to the stem discipline by the
then their to the stem discipline by the age of 10 they’re unlikely then to
age of 10 they’re unlikely then to
age of 10 they’re unlikely then to choose a career in stem so it’s
choose a career in stem so it’s
choose a career in stem so it’s incredibly difficult to change their
incredibly difficult to change their
incredibly difficult to change their minds once they start to enter the
minds once they start to enter the
minds once they start to enter the junior and the Leaving Cert cycle if we
junior and the Leaving Cert cycle if we
junior and the Leaving Cert cycle if we bring this a little bit more local in
bring this a little bit more local in
bring this a little bit more local in 2016 of the students who took the
2016 of the students who took the
2016 of the students who took the leaving ster Leaving Cert 56% of those
leaving ster Leaving Cert 56% of those
leaving ster Leaving Cert 56% of those progressed on to third level now that
progressed on to third level now that
progressed on to third level now that doesn’t mean only 56 been some of them
doesn’t mean only 56 been some of them
doesn’t mean only 56 been some of them went to the UK or other countries some
went to the UK or other countries some
went to the UK or other countries some of them didn’t quite pass and had to go
of them didn’t quite pass and had to go
of them didn’t quite pass and had to go back and retake some subjects that
back and retake some subjects that
back and retake some subjects that number that base number hides a huge
number that base number hides a huge
number that base number hides a huge diversity in progression to third level
diversity in progression to third level
diversity in progression to third level now let’s bring that even more local so
now let’s bring that even more local so
now let’s bring that even more local so we look around South County Dublin if
we look around South County Dublin if
we look around South County Dublin if you look at the now I’m gonna call them
you look at the now I’m gonna call them
you look at the now I’m gonna call them more affluent that may not be the case
more affluent that may not be the case
more affluent that may not be the case in all circumstances but the more
in all circumstances but the more
in all circumstances but the more affluent regions in Dublin you will see
affluent regions in Dublin you will see
affluent regions in Dublin you will see massive progression rates University
massive progression rates University
massive progression rates University eighty ninety percent and more if you
eighty ninety percent and more if you
eighty ninety percent and more if you then come a little bit closer to South
then come a little bit closer to South
then come a little bit closer to South County Dublin the areas within and
County Dublin the areas within and
County Dublin the areas within and around South County Dublin those rates
around South County Dublin those rates
around South County Dublin those rates fall to forty to fifty percent now that
fall to forty to fifty percent now that
fall to forty to fifty percent now that really scares me because we need huge
really scares me because we need huge
really scares me because we need huge numbers of students doing choosing STEM
numbers of students doing choosing STEM
numbers of students doing choosing STEM disciplines in order to sustain our
disciplines in order to sustain our
disciplines in order to sustain our technological future so what we need is
technological future so what we need is
technological future so what we need is a method away an initiative that allows
a method away an initiative that allows
a method away an initiative that allows us to try and attract students to the
us to try and attract students to the
us to try and attract students to the STEM disciplines but uses something that
STEM disciplines but uses something that
STEM disciplines but uses something that every child has and that is their innate
every child has and that is their innate
every child has and that is their innate curiosity okay so I am really lucky I
curiosity okay so I am really lucky I
curiosity okay so I am really lucky I work with a really committed team of
work with a really committed team of
work with a really committed team of people that we put
people that we put
people that we put together over the last year so obviously
together over the last year so obviously
together over the last year so obviously Institute of Technology teller where I
Institute of Technology teller where I
Institute of Technology teller where I work but also teller library which is
work but also teller library which is
work but also teller library which is part of the South County Dublin Library
part of the South County Dublin Library
part of the South County Dublin Library Network
Network
Network you’ve got firaga and you’ve got project
you’ve got firaga and you’ve got project
you’ve got firaga and you’ve got project 42 now Niall is going to to speak later
42 now Niall is going to to speak later
42 now Niall is going to to speak later about project 42 and really interested
about project 42 and really interested
about project 42 and really interested in his initiative developed in the UK
in his initiative developed in the UK
in his initiative developed in the UK that is showing real promise in helping
that is showing real promise in helping
that is showing real promise in helping students and especially girls to choose
students and especially girls to choose
students and especially girls to choose the STEM disciplines now we were funded
the STEM disciplines now we were funded
the STEM disciplines now we were funded by Science Foundation Islands and again
by Science Foundation Islands and again
by Science Foundation Islands and again that was really important to validate
that was really important to validate
that was really important to validate the kinds of things that we were saying
the kinds of things that we were saying
the kinds of things that we were saying because science foundation came along
because science foundation came along
because science foundation came along said yes we believe in this team we’re
said yes we believe in this team we’re
said yes we believe in this team we’re gonna give you money to try and prove
gonna give you money to try and prove
gonna give you money to try and prove this out to test that as a feasibility
this out to test that as a feasibility
this out to test that as a feasibility now over the last nine months I have
now over the last nine months I have
now over the last nine months I have been really lucky to work with groups of
been really lucky to work with groups of
been really lucky to work with groups of people from the different groups so what
people from the different groups so what
people from the different groups so what we’ve done is we’ve put together at the
we’ve done is we’ve put together at the
we’ve done is we’ve put together at the moment a package of initiatives that
moment a package of initiatives that
moment a package of initiatives that we’ve used over those months to try and
we’ve used over those months to try and
we’ve used over those months to try and encourage more and more students and
encourage more and more students and
encourage more and more students and more and more girls to try and take up
more and more girls to try and take up
more and more girls to try and take up stem and especially in the more
stem and especially in the more
stem and especially in the more disadvantaged areas of South County
disadvantaged areas of South County
disadvantaged areas of South County Dublin the very first thing that we did
Dublin the very first thing that we did
Dublin the very first thing that we did is we knew that both Fraga and the
is we knew that both Fraga and the
is we knew that both Fraga and the libraries were really active in the way
libraries were really active in the way
libraries were really active in the way that they were trying to encourage
that they were trying to encourage
that they were trying to encourage students into STEM and especially in
students into STEM and especially in
students into STEM and especially in areas of Clondalkin Clondalkin
areas of Clondalkin Clondalkin
areas of Clondalkin Clondalkin so one of the first things we want to do
so one of the first things we want to do
so one of the first things we want to do was to support the work they were doing
was to support the work they were doing
was to support the work they were doing by putting things like 3d printers kind
by putting things like 3d printers kind
by putting things like 3d printers kind of rearranging their digital learning
of rearranging their digital learning
of rearranging their digital learning space so that that could they we could
space so that that could they we could
space so that that could they we could support the work that they were doing in
support the work that they were doing in
support the work that they were doing in that so in that space we put the 3d
that so in that space we put the 3d
that so in that space we put the 3d printers we were kind of using those
printers we were kind of using those
printers we were kind of using those during the summer for the camps and the
during the summer for the camps and the
during the summer for the camps and the various other activities that we that we
various other activities that we that we
various other activities that we that we did over the last nine months we also
did over the last nine months we also
did over the last nine months we also did I think this was one of the first
did I think this was one of the first
did I think this was one of the first events we did something called the
events we did something called the
events we did something called the Design Academy now that name was only
Design Academy now that name was only
Design Academy now that name was only recently come to be applied to that
recently come to be applied to that
recently come to be applied to that method but what we did is we bought
method but what we did is we bought
method but what we did is we bought companies people from companies from the
companies people from companies from the
companies people from companies from the Dublin region we had IKEA and a guy
Dublin region we had IKEA and a guy
Dublin region we had IKEA and a guy called Lauren Morahan who is from a chef
called Lauren Morahan who is from a chef
called Lauren Morahan who is from a chef in the chops group so the the healthy
in the chops group so the the healthy
in the chops group so the the healthy restaurants that in in the square and
restaurants that in in the square and
restaurants that in in the square and other areas and what we did is we were
other areas and what we did is we were
other areas and what we did is we were taking everyday engineering problems and
taking everyday engineering problems and
taking everyday engineering problems and we were and societal problems and we
we were and societal problems and we
we were and societal problems and we were putting them up to the children and
were putting them up to the children and
were putting them up to the children and saying what do you think the solution to
saying what do you think the solution to
saying what do you think the solution to this is that was part of that
this is that was part of that
this is that was part of that we got them to do is to design small
we got them to do is to design small
we got them to do is to design small little water gardens where you could
little water gardens where you could
little water gardens where you could grow mint and other herbs and lettuce in
grow mint and other herbs and lettuce in
grow mint and other herbs and lettuce in the kitchen at home so you would reduce
the kitchen at home so you would reduce
the kitchen at home so you would reduce in theory food waste but they got to
in theory food waste but they got to
in theory food waste but they got to think about things like sustainable
think about things like sustainable
think about things like sustainable approaches and how they can be better at
approaches and how they can be better at
approaches and how they can be better at not trying out food at home so it’s a
not trying out food at home so it’s a
not trying out food at home so it’s a really interesting way of looking at the
really interesting way of looking at the
really interesting way of looking at the problems through their eyes the project
problems through their eyes the project
problems through their eyes the project for tea camps project food sue camps I’m
for tea camps project food sue camps I’m
for tea camps project food sue camps I’m not going to say much about because Maya
not going to say much about because Maya
not going to say much about because Maya loves he’s going to talk about those
loves he’s going to talk about those
loves he’s going to talk about those later but this was a really enthused
later but this was a really enthused
later but this was a really enthused together really enthusiastic group of
together really enthusiastic group of
together really enthusiastic group of company representatives including Nile
company representatives including Nile
company representatives including Nile from Transdev who’s a really good friend
from Transdev who’s a really good friend
from Transdev who’s a really good friend of ours to come and talk to the students
of ours to come and talk to the students
of ours to come and talk to the students about if you like issues within society
about if you like issues within society
about if you like issues within society everyday issues within society and then
everyday issues within society and then
everyday issues within society and then to ask the students or the kids to use
to ask the students or the kids to use
to ask the students or the kids to use Design Thinking which is a new approach
Design Thinking which is a new approach
Design Thinking which is a new approach from the US to try and tackle those
from the US to try and tackle those
from the US to try and tackle those problems using their curiosity their
problems using their curiosity their
problems using their curiosity their imagination and then getting to show us
imagination and then getting to show us
imagination and then getting to show us and their parents exactly what they
and their parents exactly what they
and their parents exactly what they think the future solutions are it was a
think the future solutions are it was a
think the future solutions are it was a really really good experience during the
really really good experience during the
really really good experience during the summer the other thing I am incredibly
summer the other thing I am incredibly
summer the other thing I am incredibly proud to do is to work more closely with
proud to do is to work more closely with
proud to do is to work more closely with some of the other groups so one of the
some of the other groups so one of the
some of the other groups so one of the things that I’m doing with Barbara
things that I’m doing with Barbara
things that I’m doing with Barbara where’s Barbara thank you a hi Barbara
where’s Barbara thank you a hi Barbara
where’s Barbara thank you a hi Barbara trom Teller library is to try and take
trom Teller library is to try and take
trom Teller library is to try and take 3d printing primary research and try and
3d printing primary research and try and
3d printing primary research and try and build if you like reality back stories
build if you like reality back stories
build if you like reality back stories behind children’s literature so we’re
behind children’s literature so we’re
behind children’s literature so we’re using a number of books include the guns
using a number of books include the guns
using a number of books include the guns of Easter we’re using and there’s a
of Easter we’re using and there’s a
of Easter we’re using and there’s a picture book by Ryan Tom body on the
picture book by Ryan Tom body on the
picture book by Ryan Tom body on the visit of President Kennedy to Ireland
visit of President Kennedy to Ireland
visit of President Kennedy to Ireland there are other other books I can’t
there are other other books I can’t
there are other other books I can’t remember the other book so but there are
remember the other book so but there are
remember the other book so but there are other books as well and what we do is we
other books as well and what we do is we
other books as well and what we do is we build boxes Curiosity boxes or 3d images
build boxes Curiosity boxes or 3d images
build boxes Curiosity boxes or 3d images of primary research back stories behind
of primary research back stories behind
of primary research back stories behind all of these things and then we immerse
all of these things and then we immerse
all of these things and then we immerse the students are the children in that
the students are the children in that
the students are the children in that story behind the book if you like and
story behind the book if you like and
story behind the book if you like and what we’re finding is that it is an
what we’re finding is that it is an
what we’re finding is that it is an incredible way of getting students
incredible way of getting students
incredible way of getting students interested in both literacy and
interested in both literacy and
interested in both literacy and technology almost at the same time and
technology almost at the same time and
technology almost at the same time and you can apply it to almost any area of
you can apply it to almost any area of
you can apply it to almost any area of technology science literature it is a
technology science literature it is a
technology science literature it is a really interesting approach to using
really interesting approach to using
really interesting approach to using technology in that way I’m really proud
technology in that way I’m really proud
technology in that way I’m really proud of that one and then the last thing that
of that one and then the last thing that
of that one and then the last thing that we
we
we doing is we’re trying to design games
doing is we’re trying to design games
doing is we’re trying to design games that we can take out to schools so that
that we can take out to schools so that
that we can take out to schools so that we can try and get these approaches out
we can try and get these approaches out
we can try and get these approaches out in kind of hit wider audiences because
in kind of hit wider audiences because
in kind of hit wider audiences because of course while we do camps that have 12
of course while we do camps that have 12
of course while we do camps that have 12 15 20 students in them that’s still only
15 20 students in them that’s still only
15 20 students in them that’s still only a tiny fraction of the children we need
a tiny fraction of the children we need
a tiny fraction of the children we need to reach in order to build the science
to reach in order to build the science
to reach in order to build the science capital of South County Dublin and then
capital of South County Dublin and then
capital of South County Dublin and then the rest of Ireland so one of the things
the rest of Ireland so one of the things
the rest of Ireland so one of the things I just like to leave you with before I
I just like to leave you with before I
I just like to leave you with before I finish up is we know the future will be
finish up is we know the future will be
finish up is we know the future will be technological we know it will be
technological we know it will be
technological we know it will be advanced many of the problems that we
advanced many of the problems that we
advanced many of the problems that we will face we have absolutely no idea
will face we have absolutely no idea
will face we have absolutely no idea what they are but one of the things I am
what they are but one of the things I am
what they are but one of the things I am no longer afraid about is what will
no longer afraid about is what will
no longer afraid about is what will happen in the future because if you look
happen in the future because if you look
happen in the future because if you look at these issues through the eyes of the
at these issues through the eyes of the
at these issues through the eyes of the children especially the children of
children especially the children of
children especially the children of South County Dublin you find that that
South County Dublin you find that that
South County Dublin you find that that future is safe that they will protect
future is safe that they will protect
future is safe that they will protect that future develop that future so I’m
that future develop that future so I’m
that future develop that future so I’m no longer afraid
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