Little Big Questions
Year Awarded
2022
Amount
€48,618
- Organisation:University College Dublin (UCD)
- Co-funded with Dept of Education:Yes
- Audience:Primary Students
- Format:Informal Education
- Location:Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow
- Topic:STEAM
Project Summary
Little Big Questions (LBQ) takes school children, in particular traveller children, from low socio-economic and educationally disadvantaged areas and transports them to University College Dublin (UCD) to explore exciting science through play and inquiry-based learning. This programme serves as a hub for content creation and sharing across multiple platforms. LBQ’s unique selling point is that the children come up with the questions they want to learn about. They decide, we provide.
Although these questions may be straightforward, the answers can be complex. Parents and teachers sometimes struggle to answer these questions, and consequently, children may stop asking questions because their source of information cannot help, thus leading to decreased future interaction with science.
At LBQ, children get to ask such questions and learn the answers but most importantly they also learn steps to develop the solutions themselves. This process engages children in a truly impactful way, because it values and listens to the interests of all children involved.
Our accompanying podcast and video productions allow parents and teachers to hear discussions based around questions their own children are asking, framed with content aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s programme will be produced in partnership with postgraduate students participating in an advanced and practical communication skills programme.
With the growing support of RTÉ, LBQ inspires the next generation of inquisitive minds in person, in cars and on portable devices everywhere. LBQ is relatable freely shared content that adapts to reach audiences however they choose to digest it.