Science on Stage Ireland

Irish Science on Stage team at London 2015 Festival: Front row: Eilish McLoughlin, Helen Ní Chríódáin, Maria Sheehan, Niamh Minton, David Doherty; Middle Row:  Dorothy Fox, David Keenahan, Back Row: Rory Geoghegan, Patrick Dundon Richard Moynihan,, Brigid Corrigan, Paul Nugent.

Science on Stage Ireland is recruiting primary and secondary school teachers with innovative ideas for teaching science to join the Irish delegation for the next European Science on Stage festival. Under the motto ‘Inventing the Future of Science Education’ the next the largest European educational fair for STEM teachers, will take place from 29 June – 2 July 2017 in the Kölcsey Convention Centre in Debrecen, Hungary (#SonS2017). Apply using the application form available at www.scienceonstage.ie  or email irelandsos@gmail.com, @SonS_IRL. Closing date for applications: 31/05/2016.

Science on Stage provides a European platform for science teachers to exchange teaching concepts and to share ideas. The ultimate goal is to improve the teaching and learning of science by fostering creativity and innovation in science teachers and students. The overall aims of Science on Stage are to:

  • Provide a forum for teachers to exchange teaching ideas for the sciences
  • Inspire and re-enthuse science teachers
  • Provide teachers with access to quality science teaching resources and ideas
  • Inform teachers about wider science research
  • Raise the profile of STEM teaching at learning at national and European level.

Every two years, Science on Stage Europe organises a Europe-wide education festival at venues across the continent. Each time, up to 350 teachers from across 25 countries are selected through a national selection process, to come together to share and exchange their ideas and concepts for successful science and mathematics teaching and learning. At the festival, each participating teacher presents his/her examples of teaching ideas and demonstrations to their international colleagues at project stands, workshops or on-stage-presentations.

David Keenahan, Paul Nugent and Eilish McLoughlin at the Science on Stage presentation at the ISTA 2016 Conference, Limerick Institute of Technology.

Irish teachers have participated in Physics on Stage festivals since 2000 and in Science on Stage festivals since their inception in 2005. The Irish participation in Physics/Science on Stage Festivals has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTeL), the Institute of Physics in Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Professional Development Service for Teachers. The National Steering Committee have brought an Irish delegation to each festival and produced booklets and videos of the best demonstrations selected by the Irish teams from these European festivals. These are freely available on the website: www.scienceonstage.ie

Science on Stage Ireland is coordinated by Dr. Eilish McLoughlin, Director CASTeL, Dublin City University and Mr. Paul Nugent, IOPI Teacher Network Coordinator.