Nationwide initiatives will help children and adults see clear paths into science and technology careers
Ireland has allocated almost €6 million to support 32 projects designed to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics into communities across the country
Announcing the funding under the Research Ireland Discover Programme, James Lawless, TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said the initiatives were intended to make STEM a familiar and accessible part of everyday life.
“This investment will ensure more children and young people can see themselves in STEM, build their confidence and feel empowered to pursue it as part of their future”
“STEM is one of the most powerful forces driving Ireland’s creativity, resilience and future prosperity,” he said. “The projects announced today will widen access to STEM by bringing wonder, curiosity and real opportunities for learning into people’s everyday lives. This investment isn’t just about supporting programmes. It’s about sparking imaginations.”
His cabinet colleague Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth, said the support for six projects through her department would help children and teenagers recognise that STEM subjects translate into real career paths.
“Today’s funding is about opening doors for our children and young people,” she said. “By supporting STEM projects both inside and outside the classroom, we are helping children and young people across Ireland to discover that science, technology, engineering and maths are not abstract subjects. This investment will ensure more children and young people can see themselves in STEM, build their confidence and feel empowered to pursue it as part of their future.”
Role of STEM in society
Diarmuid O’Brien, chief executive of Research Ireland, said the breadth of applications showed the strength of the country’s STEM engagement sector. He noted the projects aligned closely with the agency’s new strategy, launched earlier in the week.
“The projects funded today highlight the creativity and ambition of Ireland’s STEM engagement community, and their commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists,” he said. “They are also playing a vital role in helping people of all ages feel informed and connected to the role of STEM research in society.”
The Discover Programme aims to broaden public participation in science through creative, community‑based initiatives. The 2026 cohort ranges from early childhood activities to programmes for adults, with a particular focus on practical learning and outreach to underrepresented groups.
Among this year’s selected projects is Energize, led by Ann Butler at Junior Achievement Ireland, which will introduce sixth‑class pupils in national and DEIS schools to sustainability, biodiversity and renewable energy while opening discussions about STEM careers.
Another award goes to The Chemistry Toolbox, led by Dr John O’Donoghue at Trinity College Dublin, which will support early‑career researchers and teachers to co‑create inquiry‑based chemistry investigations aligned with the new Leaving Certificate curriculum. The project aims to strengthen hands‑on science particularly in DEIS and rural schools.
A third project, H2O Heroes, run by Dr Caroline Gilleran Stephens at Dundalk Institute of Technology, will help communities use their local rivers and green spaces as outdoor laboratories, encouraging participants to examine water quality, biodiversity and climate action through practical fieldwork.
Twelve higher‑education institutions and eight organisations will lead projects funded under the programme this year. They include Dublin City University, Maynooth University, South East Technological University, Trinity Colleg
e Dublin, University College Cork, University of Galway, the National Concert Hall and several non‑profit and industry bodies.
The announcement was attended by representatives from the education and research sectors, including Dr Ruth Freeman, director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, and Ann Butler of Junior Achievement Ireland, whose project is among those selected.
Top image: Dr Ruth Freeman, Director, Research for Society at Research Ireland, James Lawless TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Ann Butler, Project Lead, Energize / Junior Achievement Ire Ltd (Discover-funded project), Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth, and Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO Research Ireland. Photo: Jason Clarke
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