STEM for All: Multiple Inclusive STEM Engagements for Families, Communities
Year Awarded
2025
Amount
€60,000
- Organisation:National College of Ireland (NCI)
Project Summary
The STEM for All Project builds on our Research Ireland (RI)-funded programming, supporting STEM identities, skills, and aspirations of children and families facing significant socio-economic challenges in Dublin’s Inner City (DIC) by creating multiple, accessible, inclusive opportunities for disenfranchised families to gain confidence, competence, and a sense of belonging in STEM, and the research and innovation world.
Early Learning Initiative (ELI), National College of Ireland (NCI) is a grassroots public purpose project addressing systemic inequalities; empowering at-risk children to discover their STEM identities through creative, engaging experiences encouraging scientific thinking.
STEM is embedded across our early intervention programmes: STEM Play & Learn (home visits, ages 4–6), weekly Coding Clubs (ages 7–12), Senior Coding Club (ages 13–16), STEM events for families. Local advocacy, accessible family learning, and parent engagement are central to inclusive education, building science capital and resilient communities.
Recognising parents’ profound role in shaping children’s learning, outcomes and aspirations, our programming expands, incorporating insights from our 2024 Parental Attitudes to STEM and Digital Technology research, including findings from in-depth case studies exploring long-term STEM engagement in disadvantaged families.
To deepen impact and engagement we introduce several new elements: Think Like a Scientist pilot, an initiative aimed at bridging a gap in children’s scientific understanding through inquiry-based learning; bespoke parent technology clinics; and STEM 101 sessions demystifying core concepts, giving parents tools to support their child’s learning. In parallel, we’re developing longitudinal analysis framework exploring how sustained participation in our STEM programmes influences young people’s aspirations and progression to third-level education.