Celebrating Science Week 2023: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders in the Circular Economy – A Day with Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa’s Transition Year Girls at IMR’s Mullingar Facility
On Wednesday 15th of November 2023 the CIRUCLÉIRE team within Irish Manufacturing Research, were delighted to celebrate Science Week and welcome 26 of the girls from this year’s Transition Year group in Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa from Clara in Co Offaly to IMR’s Mullingar facility.
Members of the Circular Economy team within IMR, with special attendance by Assistant Principal in the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications, Catherine Higgins, shared with the class an introduction to the Circular Economy, first-hand discussions on their careers and their career path, and what opportunities are available to those aspiring for careers in Circular Economy. Using the example of Textiles and Fashion we explored the key concepts of Circular Economy, the benefits and barriers to achieving it, and what it being done in Ireland to promote it through the Fashion and Textile industry.
The girls were then brought on a guided tour through the various departments in IMR including Additive Manufacturing, Robotics, Augmented & Virtual Reality, and Design for Manufacturing to help broaden their understanding of the different STEM elements that the Circular Economy can be a part of and the various opportunities that are available to work in.
This event was coordinated in association with STEM Passport for Inclusion (STEM Inc.), and IMR’s Ideas Made Real programme. STEM Inc is a project from Maynooth University which focuses on encouraging and educating socio-economically disadvantaged girls in careers in STEM fields, while Ideas Made Real is the education outreach arm of Irish Manufacturing Research.
“I enjoyed today as I feel that I learned a lot about different career choices and also the purpose of circular development and how we can do it without even knowing in everyday life“
Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa Student
This was an incredible opportunity to spread knowledge and the opportunities within the Circular Economy to the next generation and we were proud and excited to engage with the girls and open them up to careers and growth within the Circular Economy.
About CIRCULÉIRE
CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership co-created by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), together with industry partners, CIRCULÉIRE aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. In November 2022, DECC announced €1.5m continuation funding for CIRCULÉIRE in 2023.
Read more about CIRCULÉIRE here.
