PUPILS from 50 schools have attended a science exhibition aimed at preparing them for jobs that do not yet exist.
The RDS Primary Science Fair took place at Belfast's Waterfront Hall this week and is one of the largest science, technology, engineering and maths (stem) events in the school calendar.
Over 2,000 Key Stage 2 pupils took part over two days as answers to experiments including which biscuits survive being dunked into tea and 'Kids versus adults: Who has the quickest reflexes?' were revealed.
The RDS Primary Science Fair is already well-established in Dublin and Limerick and between the three venues hosted more than 7,000 primary school children and their stem projects.
The event is designed to equip students with fundamental science skills in an exciting, creative and hands-on way. Research shows that science and maths skills really benefit from involvement and it is anticipated it also will help encourage the uptake of stem subjects throughout students’ education pathways and beyond.
Sinead McGleenon, a teacher in St Malachy’s Primary School, said: “Our school loves coming to the RDS Primary Science Fair and really looks forward to it each year. I have found that participating in the fair helps develop confidence in teaching science in an unthreatening and positive environment. Through participation students become active agents in their own learning. Our school has participated over a number of years and it has had a really beneficial effect on science teaching culture in the classroom.”
Michael Duffy, Chief Executive of the Royal Dublin Society said: “One of the aims of the RDS Primary Science Fair is to improve science and maths of primary school students and we know from research that the fair does this. We also aim to give primary school teachers greater confidence in the teaching of science and maths in creative and exciting ways."
For more information visit the RDS Primary Science Fair website: primarysciencefair.com.
