Local Brownies showcase water solutions in DCU
GIRLS CREATE WATER SUSTAINABILITY IDEAS USING LEGO
MEMBERS of Monasterboice Brownies and Clogherhead Brownies are changing the world, brick by brick!
The local lasses were among 200 members of Irish Girl Guides to come up with a selection of innovative water solutions using Lego, which they recently showcased at an expo in Dublin City University.
The seven to 10-year olds worked in teams of four and spent five weeks researching the issue of water sustainability and exploring innovative ways to preserve water.
“Irish Girl Guides believes in challenging stereotypes and we have undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to encourage our members to pursue STEM subjects in school and to consider pursuing careers in STEM,” said Irish Girl Guides National Programme and Training Commissioner Jenny Gannon
“We are also committed to encouraging our girls to dream big and to take action to make a difference in their local communities and in the wider world.
Each team designed, built and programmed an autonomous motorised Lego model incorporating a range of sensors and motors.
They also designed a poster with diagrams of the solution they had come up with, the feasibility of executing the project and details of the programme used. Each group of four girls also underwent an interview about their project.
Their work culminated in an expo – similar to the BT Young Scientist Exhibition - where the girls displayed their projects and were on hand to explain to families, friends and visitors the creative solutions they had come up with.
The project, Irish Girl Guides Innovatively Engaging with STEM (IGGIES), is a partnership with Dublin City University’s Learnit Lego Education and is sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland.
Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age 5+ and volunteer leaders from age 18+. No previous Guiding experience is necessary.
To find out more, see www. irishgirlguides.ie or tel: 01 6683898.