WILDCITY: Wildlife Inquiry & Learning for Discovery in Cities Involving Teens&Youth
Year Awarded
2025
Amount
€180,056.63
- Organisation:Maynooth University (MU)
Project Summary
WILDCITY aligns with all Discover Programme objectives: By engaging STs and JC students and their teachers in biodiversity-oriented research activities, through which students will undertake their own research and apply their findings in design and planning, WILDCITY will increase awareness of the impact of research, innovation and science; build engagement and confidence with scientific inquiry; and increase awareness of STEM careers through relatable experiences. In so doing, WILDCITY will help teachers and students complete Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) to meet JC Science learning outcomes (LOs).
By explicitly targeting DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools and girls’ schools and by encouraging participation of STs from diverse groups to act as STEM ambassadors, WILDCITY will enable a broad range of society to engage with STEM, break down barriers to STEM participation and career entry, and enhance access, inclusion and diversity in STEM.
By working with teachers and STs to co-create and deliver programme activities, WILDCITY will produce new and creative ways of engaging students and teachers in STEM and develop skills and capacity for the delivery of STEM and public engagement in Ireland.
By providing opportunities for JC students to design campus improvements to benefit biodiversity using the results of research projects they conduct and to engage with researchers and their peers in this design, WILDCITY will stimulate debate/dialogue amongst the public and experts, highlight the role of STEM in addressing societal issues such as the biodiversity crisis, and meet learning goals related to sustainability in the JC Science curriculum.