News

Irish Centre for Talented Youth wins €10,000 Google Rise Award

08 December 2010

DCU's Irish Centre for Talented Youth has been awarded the maximum grant of €10,000 as part of the Google Rise Awards 2010.  The Rise awards (Roots in Science and Engineering), are designed to promote and support Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Computer Science (CS) education initiatives.

According to Google, "We believe that technology will continue to play an important role in shaping our future, and the youth of today will help innovate and drive these technologies for years to come. If all things were equal and the playing field was flat, all students would have a chance to reach their potential and achieve great things in science. To that end, through the Google RISE Awards, we aspire to help students take one step closer to achieving their potential by offering growth and development opportunities".

The centre submitted their proposal for the award based on their recently introduced Academic Achievement Programme which has allowed over 900 primary school students, from socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Dublin to attend special after school classes at Dublin City University. This programme is a collaboration between the ACCESS Service and Irish Centre for Talented Youth (CTYI) at Dublin City University.

The decision to start these classes was taken after a ‘needs-analysis’ report from local primary school principals highlighted the lack of support for bright students from classes in disadvantaged areas.  Teachers from these schools were asked to identify students who could participate and greater develop their academic talent. The goal was to encourage students who traditionally would not have access to university resources and materials towards an academic path and to fulfill their potential.  There was no charge to the students or their families or schools for attending these programmes.

Some of the subjects that the students have studied so far include superhero science, experimental physics, forensic science, aeronautical engineering, architecture, sports science, computers & animation, chemistry, creative writing, and many more. This term students are studying forensic science, engineering and creative writing.

Objectives of Programme:
1) To provide educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged areas both inside and outside the school environment.
2) To enrich the curriculum of primary school students by providing an opportunity for them to access subjects ordinarily only available at third level courses e.g. environmental science, chemistry, aeronautical engineering.
3) To give these students the opportunity to access a university and its facilities.
4) To promote positive attitudes to science and education in the community.
5) To encourage support from parents and family of students from disadvantaged areas.  The programme concludes with a Graduation Ceremony at the end of each term and family members are strongly encouraged to attend.
6) To encourage students to aim for third level education when they are older, by basing the project on a university campus.

According to teacher Mary Scanlan, Virgin Mary's Boys National School, Ballymun, “Most of our students wouldn’t have a history of 3rd level in their families, so this is a wonderful opportunity for them to become aware of what’s available.”