Science hub at Learning Hub Limerick

The central goal of the Science Hub is to increase engagement and participation in STEM subjects among children and young people in Limerick City and County. It was conceived as a solution-focused response to the high levels of educational disadvantage experienced in Limerick City. This funding has played a crucial role in the growth of the Science Hub in Limerick. The Science Hub has grown from 20 participants in 2011 to 3271 participants in 2019. Despite the disruption of the pandemic and a lack of funding in 2020, we worked with 1200 young people from the community. The pandemic has impeded learning within our community. Research indicates that children from economically disadvantaged communities are negatively impacted by an increased length of time out of formal education. Families from disadvantaged communities experience considerable obstacles to online and home learning. To help reduce the negative impact from loss of learning over 2020 and 2021, the Science hub plans to work more intensely with DEIS Schools from our area. For 2022 the Science Hub will continue with STEM and STEAM for Primary School children and will continue the School transition programme for 1st and 2nd year students in our local Secondary School. Support from Discover will allow the Science Hub to continue to carry out outreach work with communities around Limerick city whose educational disadvantage has been exacerbated by the pandemic.