BellTime Magazine Spring/ Summer 2016 May 2016 | Page 29

Students can make a real difference with a career in STEM
Smart Futures is a
collaborative programme
between government and
industry that aims to give
secondary school students
the opportunity to engage
with real people working
in science, technology,
engineering and maths
(STEM) in Ireland today.
The website www.
SmartFutures.ie provides
students and guidance
counsellors with real-life
examples of STEM careers
in Ireland, through video
interviews and 100+
career profiles. It also
gives students access to
role models through its
volunteers for schools
programme.

FREE SCHOOL TALKS
Secondary school teachers,
TY coordinators or guidance
counsellors are welcome
to register their school on
the website for free career
talks at any time during the
school year. Once registered,
the teacher will receive a

dedicated login to request
this resource whenever they
require.

ANY OTHER
RESOURCES?

These talks help inspire
and motivate students
about their future career
paths, so they can make
more informed decisions,
before making subject or
CAO choices. They can
ask practical questions of
someone with real industry
experience and learn about
what it is like to work in
anything from biochemistry
to cybersecurity, food
technology to data analytics
and more.

Teachers, parents and
students can access lots of
other useful materials on the
resources section of www.
SmartFutures.ie and find out
more about STEM outreach
programmes such as Coder
Dojo and Mathletes, to begin
to experience STEM for
themselves.

A career in STEM brings
with it a huge number of
opportunities and the chance
to make a meaningful
difference to society. With
the ever growing need for
STEM graduates in Ireland,
where well paid, exciting and
fulfilling roles are available
to students of different
capabilities, it is vital that we
inform students about such
career paths and challenge
negative stereotypes.

This is particularly important
in encouraging young
females, where engagement
with female role models
can greatly increase their
participation.
Smart Futures is managed
by Science Foundation
Ireland in partnership with
Engineers Ireland and
companies such as Google,
Boston Scientific and IBM.

Connect with us on
Twitter: @SmartFuturesIE
or Facebook.com/
SmartFutures
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