Science Learning Webinar: Equity, Access & Coronavirus

How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed approaches to science learning online? And how will things change as museums and galleries open? On 30 July, we hosted a free webinar exploring the digital divide, access and equity.

About the panelists:

The conversation was facilitated by Science Gallery Dublin’s Mairéad Hurley, Head of Research and Learning, and Sophie Perry, Research and Learning Coordinator. The contributing panellists are:

Kate Delaney, Founder of Make Create Innovate
Make Create Innovate is a socially-minded enterprise working across formal and informal education sectors to deliver workshops and courses that give young people and adults an opportunity to make, build, create, and explore. MyPlace is an online project where participants re-imagine themselves as architects, cyclists, city planners, artists, and gardeners - citizens of Ireland with a story to tell about their place as they see it now, or as they would like it to be. Kate will talk about Make Create Innovate’s recent work to design and develop STEAM learning projects that offer a hands-on experience from a home setting, and how these projects can assist in exploring the curriculum in primary and post-primary education.

Rob O’Sullivan & Frances MacSweeney, CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory
CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory is an award-winning visitor centre in an observatory on the banks of the Lee in Cork. BCO is a centre for research, education & public engagement and co-ordinates Ireland’s newest STEM week: Space Week. Frances McCarthy is an educator and the “voice” of BCO in print and broadcast media. Rob O’Sullivan brings a background of human rights activism to the team, along with award-winning science communication skills. He passionately believes that astronomy can be used as a tool to address social issues by empowering marginalised communities to avail of new opportunities.

Vicky Twomey Lee, Maker Advocate at Dublin Maker
Dublin Maker is a not-for-profit organisation that runs a free annual family-friendly Maker festival held in Dublin city centre since 2012, and is funded by Science Foundation Ireland. It brings together Makers, educators, crafters, coders, hobbyists and anyone who like to showcase their projects in a carnival atmosphere. It is a celebration of the Maker movement. Dublin Maker is currently running a 2-year programme called Make Advocacy in Dublin for Everyone (MADE), promoting Maker culture and connecting the community and initiatives including making technologies and activities more accessible for everyone.

Claire Riodan, Public Engagement Manager at CÚRAM
CÚRAM is the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Medical Devices at NUI Galway. Its goal is to improve quality of life for people living with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, Parkinson's Disease, MS and Diabetes, through the development of next generation medical device technologies. CÚRAM’s public engagement programme ‘Breaking Barriers’ aims to forge collaborations between our researchers, partners and the community, to co-create resources that reach a broad audience, with specific focus on under-represented and under-engaged groups. The programme is based around three core residency programmes for filmmakers, artists and teachers. ‌Claire Riordan will give an overview of the approach to learning at CÚRAM, and how CÚRAM has attempted to maintain engagement during 2020 and the changes that will endure as the programme continues to develop in the future.