SPARKING A LIFE-LONG INTEREST IN STEM
ABBVIE EMPLOYEES TO DELIVER STEM PROGRAMME IN SCHOOLS.
MAIREAD McGuinness MEP was one of a number of speakers at the launch of a new science education initiative which took place earlier today at the biopharmaceutical company AbbVie’s site in Ballytivnan, Sligo.
The MEP was joined by representatives from Science Foundation Ireland, trainee astronaut Dr Norah Patten and others to showcase Back to School for STEM, a new schools outreach focused on promoting science role models currently active in the Irish workplace.
The initiative, which will be delivered by AbbVie employees, aims to encourage greater student awareness of the rewarding career opportunities that can be unlocked by studying STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).
Among the key recommendations of the STEM Paths report was a need to highlight the positive personal experiences of young Irish people currently working across Irish industry within the STEM disciplines.
The Back to School for STEM initiative will see employees from AbbVie’s five different Irish sites visit schools, including those they themselves studied at, to talk about their jobs and the difference their work makes to wider society.
“It’s about how you can spark a life long interest in STEM subjects,” explained Dr. Norah Patten.
Dr. Patten, from Ballina, is a trainee astronaut and is keen to see STEM subjects promoted and encouraged among children.
Dr. Patten regularly speaks to groups about the subject and uses her own experience to try and inspire others.
“I speak about what sparked my interest in space, science and engineering and how I get that up throughout my teenage years. Role models too are important so people like parents, teachers, people in certain jobs who might have an interest in space.
“It’s to get people thinking about what we can do to get more children involved. There are so many opportunities out there for anyone with an interest.”
Since she became interested in space, Dr. Patten has always kept an eye out for courses or workshops that involve space, or aeronautics.
“I’ve been interested since I was 11. We went on a family trip to NASA when we were in Ohio and that was it. I got to back when I was a teenager and when I was 15 I went to the Kennedy Space Center and I was walking under the rocket that went to the moon,” she explained.
“I did aeronautical engineering in college and would always be looking out for space courses and that kind of thing.”
Dr. Patten is on course to be the first Irish person in space, as she is on a list of candidates to go to space following her participation in a scientist-astronaut training programme in Florida last year.
She is hopeful that an increase in commercial space flights over the next number of years will mean that she can finally travel to space in the next five to ten years.
“I want to keep going and just do whatever courses I can,” she added.