Science on Stage festival 2017 welcomes Ireland’s best science teachers to European educational fair in Debrecen.
‘Inventing the future of science education’ is the motto of the 10th European Science on Stage festival. One of Europe’s biggest educational events for science teachers will take place from 29 June to 2 July at the Kölcsey Convention Centre in Debrecen, Hungary. Around 450 STEM teachers from 30 countries, including Ireland come together to exchange innovative teaching ideas at a fair, in workshops and on stage. With its festival, Science on Stage Europe supports teachers‘ professional development. The overall aim is to encourage more students into science, engineering and IT by increasing the quality of STEM teaching. The festival is under the patronage of Mr Tibor Navracsics, Member of the European Commission.
Educational experts from Ireland: 9 Irish teachers obtain a ticket to Debrecen
Ireland will take part at the Science on Stage festival 2017 with 8 teachers. These include:
- Paul Nugent, Santa Sabina School and IOP teacher coordinator – Delegation lead
- Declan Cathcart, Temple Carrig School – “The Wonderful World of Woodlice”
- Máire Duffy, Clonkeen College – “Homemade Electroscopes”
- Robert Clarke, Confey College – “Green Greens?”
- Nicola Sheehan, Donabate Community College – “Numeracy with Knitting”
- Enda Carr, St. Marys Secondary School Glasnevin – “Zippie Chemistry”
- Sean Fogarty, St. Mary’s Seconday School – “Fun with Electomagnetism”
- David Keenehan, IOPI Teacher Network Coordinator – “Rotation”
- David O’Connell, Christian Brothers‘ Cork –”The magic of Science”
Science on Stage: Best practice from teachers for teachers
Science on Stage started as an education initiative funded by the European Union. Since 2007 the initiative has been continued by Europe’s most committed science teachers: The non-profit association is the biggest pan-European network for science educators reaching around 100,000 pedagogues. It supports the improvement of teaching by connecting teachers with exceptional hands-on ideas for science classes across borders. Teachers from 30 countries come together every two years to exchange ideas on the Science on Stage festival, an educational fair that has in the past been hosted in Berlin, Copenhagen, the border cities Frankfurt (Oder) / Słubice and London. The 10th European Science on Stage festival is this year hosted by Science on Stage Hungary in cooperation with Science on Stage Europe.
Science on Stage Ireland is coordinated by Dr. Eilish McLoughlin, CASTeL and Mr. Paul Nugent, IOPI teacher network coordinator. Science on Stage Ireland is supported by CASTeL at Dublin City University, the Institute of Physics in Ireland (IOPI) and Science Foundation Ireland.