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In this newsletter we share news about STEM, activities and resources. 

Bealtaine takes place each year on the 1^st of May, it signifies the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. The ancient Celtic Festival began when our ancient ancestors were by great necessity bound to the seasons and moods of the Earth and in May celebrated the rebirth of life as we move into the warmer summer and prosperous season ahead. This year, Bealtaine signified the change of Waterford Institute of Technology to South East Technological University and the return of our first in-person festival in over two years!

We always like to hear from our community, so please email us at calmast.wd@setu.ie with any suggestions, comments or queries.

Thank you for your continued support. 
- Kayleigh Foran, Calmast, STEM Engagement Centre

            

 

Bealtaine Living Earth Festival
 

Bealtaine Living Earth Festival 14 – 23 May, returned to in person events in 2022 after two years online. 
 
Over 1,400 participants from schools, family groups, lovers of nature and the great outdoors attended events across the South East. The festival aimed to encourage people young and old to explore the local heritage and biodiversity of the region, with expert guides and collaborators. 
It was the 18th year of the festival and once again the festival incorporated the UN International Biodiversity Day. It also celebrated International Bee Day, Fascination with Plants day and European Maritime Day.
 
Many thanks to our partners who made the festival such a success; Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, Copper Coast Geo Park, John F. Kennedy Arboretum, Waterford City and County Council, Seal Rescue Ireland, Castlecomer Discovery Park, Dave’s Jungle, Marie Power (The Sea Gardener), Órla Bates, Kilkenny Castle, Brian White, Paddy Dwan, The Marine Institute and South East Technological University. 
 
Website: https://www.livingearth.ie

 

Maths is one of the few universal languages in society that can bring minds together no matter their background. Maths is for everyone. It is very important in our lives and we all use maths every day, from counting our change to looking at bus and train timetables, and a whole lot more.

Due to the wars in Ukraine and Syria, Irish schools are welcoming many Ukrainian and Syrian refugees into their classrooms. Maths Week Ireland wants to help make this huge transition for teachers and students a little bit easier. We have translated some of our popular Maths Week puzzles into Ukrainian and Arabic along with a page on our website explaining what Maths Week is and why maths is so important in our everyday lives.

The five puzzle PDF's can be downloaded here in Ukrainian and Arabic. These resources include the Hamilton puzzle, the river crossing problem, a maze puzzle, an emoji puzzle and a Magic Triangle. 

Don’t worry if you get stuck, or make a mistake. It is by making mistakes that we learn! Visit Mathsweek.ie today.
       

     
   

 

 

The Robert Boyle Summer school is where adults can meet and explore the place of science in our culture. Boyle, born at Lismore Castle in 1627, was one of the most important figures of the age known as the Scientific Revolution. 

Founded in 2012, this June will be the 10^th Robert Boyle Summer School and we are planning for a hybrid event. We will have live speakers and a live audience but we will also stream live.  The dates are 24-25 June and the theme will be Science and Colonialism.

As is our custom, we will start in the 17^th Century. We will consider the Boyle family as leading colonists in Ireland and Robert’s own involvement in colonial matters. We will then move forward to the present day looking at the inter-relationship between science and colonialism. We will consider current issues and look to the future. There will be ample space created for discussion and for in-person attendees there will be an attractive social programme.  

Events will take place on Friday 24 June at City Hall Waterford and on 25 June at Lismore Heritage Centre. A coach will ferry people from Waterford to Lismore.

If you would like to participate in Ireland’s only cultural summer school (for adults) exploring science, please complete our registration form
                                

Calmast is delivering STEM engagement throughout the South East with the support of SETU, national and local government and local industry. Partnerships with industry are so important to this success and we have an ongoing collaboration with Sanofi, Abbott, MSD, WEST, and Bausch + Lomb. We are pleased to announce that another flagship company in the region, Danone has just committed to a year-long partnership.
          

 


If you would like more information on industry partnerships, please email: calmast.wd@setu.ie

SciFest South East Regional Final
 

SciFest South East Regional Final was the first Calmast led event which took place under the new South East Technological University banner.

Sixteen expert judges from STEM industry across the South East with Lecturers in Science and Engineering from SETU put contestants through their paces with students from the Presentation Secondary School Clonmel, Scoil na mBraithre Dungarvan, St Kieran's College Kilkenny, C.B.S. Carrick-on-Suir and Glenart College Wicklow all took home top prizes in a range of different categories.

The overall winners on the day were Sheryl Merin Scaria and Bianca Gouws from Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel for their project ‘Sensory stimulation for infants and toddlers to help reduce the effects of autism’. Merin and Bianca will now go through to the Scifest National Final in Dublin later this year.

A special thanks to partners of SciFest, Boston Scientific, Intel, Smurfit Kappa, Vermilion Energy, Fenergo, Accenture, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Also a special thanks to SciFest Judges from Bausch & Lomb, Danone, Teva, GSK, MSD, Red Hat, EPA, West Pharma, Sanofi, Prochem and Waters Technologies.
 

Pictured L-R: SciFest Project Manager, Hugo Rowsome, Presentation Secondary School Clonmel Students Sheryl Merin Scaria and Bianca Gouws, Calmast Director Dr. Sheila Donegan. 

                          Waterford, Ireland's Best Place to Live             

One of the final events to take place under the Waterford Institute of Technology banner, Calmast's Slippery Slime workshops took place as part of Waterford, Ireland's Best Place to Live in John Roberts Square Saturday 30th April. 

Over 140 children, adults and family groups joined the workshops which took place throughout the day. 

          
               Pictured: Participants making Slime at the Waterford, Ireland's Best Place to Live event. 

 

Taking place during the month of June,‘Dragons and Dinosaurs’ aims to promote collaboration, creativity and cultural engagement as the core element of this multidisciplinary and cross-community initiative, rooted in local heritage.
 
The project is funded by the Kilkenny Creative Ireland Programme 2022 and brings together Calmast STEM Engagement Centre (coordinators), Castlecomer Discovery Park, artist Órla Bates, Castlecomer Library and pupils from Presentation Convent Castlecomer and Castlecomer Boys National school. 
 
Taking place over four weeks, the project will begin with each school embarking on an educational tour of Castlecomer Discover Park, pupils will learn about the history of the park, biodiversity, climate change, extinction and the fossils discovered there in a hands-on, open and outdoor setting. The fossils, which include crocodiles, snakes and dragonflies, were some of the early animals to walk on land. Today they are creatures that still inspire awe, especially in young people who are exploring the centre.
 

Pictured: Members of the Seashell Guiding District creating mono-prints at the Seal Rescue Ireland Centre as part of Wexford Creative Communities, funded by Creative Ireland, Wexford County Council and Science Foundation Ireland.

Everything Calmast does is in partnership. We work with local authorities, state agencies, industries and businesses, NGOs, community groups and schools. There are lots of great people and groups promoting STEM in the region and there are more that would like to with support. We can achieve more impact by working together and Calmast at SETU offers coordination, training and support to all. 

Ní neart go cur le chéile.

In partnership with Industry, Local Authorities, Community Groups, and Schools, with funding from Science Foundation Ireland, Calmast is developing the most comprehensive STEM eco-system in Ireland across the South East through our Hub and Cluster Model. The first tranche of clusters has been developed in Waterford, New Ross, Dungarvan, Clonmel, Kilkenny and Wexford. These clusters will enhance the provision of STEM engagement across the region. 
 

For more information about joining the clusters, please email: calmast.wd@setu.ie

 



Date
September – October 2022 

Location
Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary
 
Sustainability: Our Future, Your Story is a 6-week module focusing on sustainability and biodiversity through the medium of digital storytelling focusing on theme “Sustainability: Our future, your story.” The module aims to empower TY students by learning, exploring, discovering and developing action in their own community. The programme will begin in mid-September 2022. 
 
Students will create a short creative output using a digital platform of their choice. 
Students from across the South East will come together to develop a sense of wider community and involvement.  It will incorporate problem solving, ideation, creativity and originality, critical thinking, pupil led inquiry and collaboration. Focusing on sustainability, biodiversity, climate change and The United Nations sustainability goals. Coordinated by Calmast and an array of external experts (local experts, digital storytellers, engineers etc). 
 
Upon completion, students and teachers will receive a certificate from Calmast, STEM Engagement Centre, recognising the efforts of students and teachers regarding Sustainability, Climate Action and STEM Engagement in the region. Media produced by students will be showcased at the end of the programme and as part of Science Week 12 – 20 November. 
 
Registration of interest: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6SDDZ7Y

Bealtaine Living Earth Festival in Numbers