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Daragh Nolan, 14 Jun
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and
Science, Patrick O'Donovan TD, today announced 12 primary schools in
Kildare have been awarded the SFI Curious Minds Award 2024.
Led by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the programme aims to increase
interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among
primary school students, parents, and teachers, nationwide in a fun,
engaging way.
Scoil Naisiunta Na Cloiche Moire - Silver Award
Presentation Girls School - Gold Award
St Brigid's NS - Silver Award
Scoil BhrĂde, An Chill - Gold Award
North Kildare Educate Together National School - Gold Award
Scoil BhrĂde NS Athgarvan - Gold Award
Gaelscoil Nás na RĂogh - Gold Award
St.Brigid's National School - Gold Award
Naas Community National School - Gold Award
Scoil Chorbain COIL CHORBAIN - Gold Award
Scoil Ui Dhalaigh- Gold Award
Scoil Choca Naofa - Gold Award
Announcing the 2024 Curious Minds Awards at a visit to Kilbehenny
National School, Knockrour, Kilbehenny, Co. Limerick (Platinum
award-winners), Minister O’Donovan said, “I am delighted to announce
the winners of this year’s SFI Curious Minds Awards. Congratulations to
all involved – your individual and collective dedication and effort has
paid off! Curiosity about science provides the building blocks to
explore new ideas, increase knowledge and even unearth discoveries. I
want to thank the schools and teachers who have facilitated such
enthusiastic and productive participation among their students.”
The SFI Curious Minds Awards celebrate and recognise the participation
of schools in hands-on, inquiry-based learning in STEM. Since launching
twenty years ago, the programme has seen students exploring a wide
range of STEM activities, from investigating renewable energy, egg drop
challenges, growing vegetables, launching rockets, mini-beast hunts,
learning about materials and maths through baking, design and make
challenges, marble runs, enhancing their technology skills through
coding, and using STEM to solve everyday problems.
The Awards offer three categories for applicants: The Silver Award is
aimed at schools starting out on the STEM journey and involves a
minimum of two classes. The Gold Award, which is for schools further
along their STEM journey, involves at least half of the classes in the
school. The Platinum Award is for schools that have already achieved
the Gold Award and want to challenge themselves to further integrate
STEM into the school culture. This year, in Kildare, two schools
achieved the Silver Award, and 10 schools received the Gold Award.
The schools’ achievements were celebrated in classrooms across the
country during a virtual SFI Curious Minds Awards Ceremony held this
morning, Friday, June 14. TV presenters Gráinne Bleasdale and Phil
Smyth hosted a live-streamed event, which featured a number of exciting
experiments.
Director, Science for Society at SFI, Dr Ruth Freeman said, “The SFI
Curious Minds Awards are a true highlight of the year, and reward the
active and ongoing involvement of thousands of pupils nationwide in
STEM-related activities. The winners’ interest in STEM inspires other
pupils – both younger and older – to get and stay curious, all of which
helps to build a culture and community of exploration and learning.”
The SFI Curious Minds programme supplies tools to empower schools in
teaching science, technology, engineering and Maths, allowing teachers
to spark fun and curiosity both inside and outside the classroom. SFI,
in conjunction with the European Space Education Resource Office
(ESERO), offers free continuous professional development (CPD) in STEM
for primary school teachers, as well as curriculum-linked STEM
classroom resources. The programme explores STEM topics through
inquiry-based learning. The programme also offers a varied selection of
Department of Education-approved summer courses with partners like
ESERO Ireland, MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory and Sustainable Energy
Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Applicants who complete a summer course
will be eligible for EPV days.
Total Awards in Kildare: 12 awarded 
Gold Award: 10 awarded 
Silver Award: 2 awarded 
Gaelscoils Schools: 2 awardees for 2023/2024
DEIS Schools: 1 awardee for 2023/2024
Registration for the 2024/2025 Academic Year SFI Curious Minds Awards
will open in September 2024. Registration for the CPD courses for
2024/2025 are open now. For more information on the SFI Curious Minds
programme, please visit www.curiousminds.ie or contact the team
on curiousminds@sfi.ie.