The Minister was speaking at a reception for the North of Ireland entrants to the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2009. The young scientist exhibition is an all-Ireland competition with a record 1,616 projects entered for the 2009 competition.
Ms Ruane said: “Last January I had the pleasure to be at the opening of the competition at the RDS and it is amazing that the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is now in its 45th year.
I am particularly pleased to see that the North has seen a dramatic increase of 25% in the number of projects entered and that schools from all six counties have qualified for the finals. Over 50% of schools from the North that entered have made it through to the final, well above the average qualification rate of 30%”.
The Minister continued: “The importance of science cannot be understated; it is embedded in our everyday lives, in the economy, in technology and in the environment and I am acutely aware of the importance of science and technology as essential tools for improving our society and economy.
“This competition provides an opportunity for our young scientists to show their talents and to demonstrate their creative and innovative skills in the STEM subject areas.
“Getting young people to interact with science and technology helps make science relevant and fun as the young people learn through investigation and exploration into their surroundings”.
The Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning are currently working with key industrialists, educational and public sector stakeholders to review STEM in schools and Further Education.
The Minister concluded: “I would like to congratulate all the students, and teachers, for the time and effort they have spent in putting together their entries and particular congratulations and good luck to those teams and individuals who have made it through to the finals in January”.
Notes to Editors:
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