Ireland wins European Science Teaching Award
Thursday 1 December

Back row: (l-r) Rachel Linney, Paul Nugent, Tim Regan, Sean Fogarty, Seamus O’Donghaile. Front row: (l-r) Damienne Letmon, Alison Graham, Siobhan Crowe, Eilish McLoughlin.

The ‘Irish Science on Stage’ team, led by Dr Eilish McLoughlin from the School of Physical Sciences at Dublin City University received the 2005 EIROforum Science Teaching Award, at the Science Teaching Festival held in CERN, November 2005.

The ‘Science on Stage’ programme is an innovative, pan-European science education activity, aimed to foster a renewal of science teaching in Europe by encouraging the exchange of new concepts and best practices among teachers. The goal is to strengthen the awareness and interest of young people in science and technology, a vital precondition for securing the long-term development of our society.

Eilish and her team’s presentation involved explaining different approaches to teaching science from primary level through to third-level education. It explained the practice of challenging students’ science-learning skills. The Irish team’s theories and presentation style surpassed other European teams who focused on the method of rote learning and repeated textbook style experiments.

The Irish team, consisting of eight enthusiastic science teachers, were selected nationally for their excellence in teaching and motivating young people in science. The are: Paul Nugent, St Dominic's High School, Santa Sabina, Dublin 13; Alison Graham, Sandford Park School, Ranelagh, Dublin 6; Sean Fogarty, St. Mary's Seconday School, New Ross, Co. Wexford; Siobhan Crowe, Dominican College Wicklow, Wicklow Rachel Linney, Confey College, Leixlip, Co. Kildare; Seamus O’Donghaile, Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon; Damienne Letmon, Presentation College, Terenure Park, Dublin 6w and Tim Regan, Physics Coordinator with Second Level Support Service whom is based in Co. Kerry.

Dr Eilish McLoughlin is also part of the Centre for Advancement of Science Teaching and Learning (CASTel). The primary focus of CASTeL is to encourage excellence and innovation in science education at all levels.