RCSI Junior Researcher Programme
Year Awarded
2021
Amount
€11,835
- Organisation:RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science (RCSI)
- Format:Non-formal Education
- Location:Dublin
- Topic:Science
Project Summary
RCSI ‘Junior Researcher Programme’ will seek to?enhance scientific literacy, engage and inspire scientific curiosity and confidence in DEIS school students.? Participants will engage?in a series of interactive workshops, co-created with school partners, to support preparations for their Junior Certificate examination, transporting the student from textbook to the real world of scientific research and illustrate their interconnection.
A continued achievement gap remains between students of DEIS?(Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools)?and non-DEIS schools in Ireland. Analysis of PISA 2018?by the Irish Educational Research Centre (ERC) demonstrates?that students of DEIS?schools?had an average science score (465), significantly lower than?both?the corresponding OECD average (488.7) and?their counterparts in non-DEIS schools (506).?
This project aims to:?
– Support participants to develop their scientific literacy??
– Support student’s preparation for Junior Certificate ‘Science in Society’ Investigation?
– Build interest in STEM subjects in advance of senior cycle.?
– Provide insight into research and STEMM careers through dialogue with positive STEM role models.?
– Promote engagement of students and wider school communities by facilitating dialogue with the RCSI research community.??
– Foster understanding of innovative RCSI research and its impact on society.?
?Interactive workshops will see students engage with RCSI research community, build understanding of the scientific method and experience in research techniques. Visits to RCSI laboratories to facilitate first-hand experience of research in action and conduct experiments and will culminate in a mini-symposium for students to present their work and project experience in a supportive environment.