Cork STEM showcase will attract students from across country

Fri, 17 Nov, 2023 - 07:00

Amy Power

SECONDARY school students will travel from all corners of the country next week to attend the annual STEM South West expo in Cork City Hall.

The free-to-attend event takes place on Wednesday, November 22, from 4pm to 8pm and will showcase career opportunities available to students in the world of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

STEM South West seeks to inspire at least 20% of the 916,000 children and young learners in Irish schools to consider a career in STEM.

In support of that effort, it is joining forces with industry and education partners on this live showcase event.

Ahead of the expo, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney praised the aim of the event, now in its fifth year.

“I commend the leadership and long-term view being taken to encourage the STEM champions of tomorrow by STEM South West and its industry and education partners,” he said.

“Our Irish economy is thriving through the direct contribution of a skilled STEM workforce which is integral to our diverse industry sectors.

“I encourage all students and parents to come along, participate and enjoy the immersive experience.”

Visitors at this year’s showcase will get to explore exhibits from some of the biggest employers in the country, including Johnson & Johnson, DePuy Synthes, Gilead Sciences, Plas Engineering, MTU, UCC, Analog, Horner, PepsiCo, Astellas, and many more.

The impact of previous events has been noteworthy, with nine out of 10 students expressing an increased interest in pursuing a career in STEM after attending the event, which has been held virtually in recent years.

“The work that STEM South West is doing is necessary to ensure that our current STEM industry base is secure, that companies continue to locate in Ireland, that our start-ups and SMEs are given the opportunity to thrive, and that the students of today are given the skills to tackle the global challenges of tomorrow,” said chair of STEM South West, Marguerite O’Sullivan.

“STEM South West is driving a collective response to this – by showcasing the incredible range of opportunities that the STEM sector has to offer across the South West.”

Event organisers are calling on secondary students, their parents and teachers, who have not yet registered for the free event to do so.

Teachers and guidance counsellors will have a dedicated section at the event, where they can learn firsthand about the career options now available in the STEM sector in the region.