BD’s Research Centre Ireland (RCI) based in Limerick is passionate about supporting community-based initiatives that foster future talent. Its secondary school competition STEM Stars is now open to schools all over the Munster region for 2023/24 registrations, which will see a shortlisted group of schools invited to BD Research Centre Ireland for the final in March 2024.
STEM learning promotes critical thinking, leadership, curiosity, and innovation. Now in its 5th year, STEM Stars aims to inspire and encourage students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and offers a €10,000 prize fund to support and develop STEM education and facilities as well as prizes for the winning students.
Previously open to schools in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, the success of the competition has seen it expanded this year to welcoming entries from all schools in the Munster region.
To further promote STEM and help prepare students for their future, RCI is also offering much sought-after Transition Year placements for one of the winning schools where students will gain valuable exposure to R&D in a global medical device company.
To take part in this year’s STEM Stars, students are asked to identify a healthcare problem that is meaningful to them and, using STEM subjects, they are asked for creative and innovative ways of solving the problem.
Madison and Emma Greaney from Desmond College chatting with Dr John Carey, Senior Manager, BD Research Centre Ireland about the STEM Stars competition.
Limerick and Clare ETB Community Colleges shone brightly at last year’s BD Stem Stars awards, with Desmond College in Newcastle West in County Limerick taking home first place and Coláiste Chiaráin taking home third place at BD’s world-class Research Centre Ireland in Castletroy, Limerick. Desmond College students Madison Saracoglu and Emma Greaney created the award winning ‘Rehabilitation Nation’ device for rehabilitating shoulder injuries, which earned them the BD STEM Stars trophy for first place, as well as a €10,000 prize fund. This prize fund went towards STEM-related facilities at their school and they serve as a great inspiration for students from all over Munster to enter the 2024 competition.
Speaking about BD STEM STARS, Director of Schools at Limerick and Clare ETB, Donncha Ó Treasaigh, said: “Limerick and Clare ETB is delighted to partner with BD in promoting the awards programme. This superb BD initiative goes to the heart of a very important national objective to promote STEM learning in our schools, and this is something that we are very committed to. Not only does it promote STEM subjects, it also gives participating students an insight into the incredibly exciting career that they can have in STEM; a career in which they can make a real impact on people’s lives and work in cutting-edge environments like BD’s RCI Centre here in Limerick.”
Site Director at BD’s Research Centre Ireland (RCI) in Limerick, Seán Wall, is also looking forward to this year’s competition: “BD is proud to empower Ireland’s future innovators by fostering STEM-rich education across the country – where curiosity meets discovery, and every classroom is a gateway to boundless possibilities.”
For more information on BD STEM Stars visit www.bd.com/en-uk/company/bd-stem-stars
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