Secondary School STEM Opportunities

In order to empower students to make fully informed choices about their future careers, we believe they need to have as much information as possible. We offer a range of free experiences that will provide career guidance advice and work placement opportunities in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Classroom Visits

Explore our secondary school outreach initiative, designed to empower young adults through school visits, career talks, and immersive workshops for future generations. This initiative encourages students to consider studying science at third level, illustrates scientific career opportunities and enhances their scientific awareness. If you would like your class to avail of a career talk or workshop please complete an Expression of Interest Form here. Visits are subject to availability and are limited.

Workshops

Workshops can be offered in person or remotely depending on the workshop, school’s needs, but also researcher availability.

Workshops include: 

Activity Name  Activity Description  Activity Time  Year(s) this is suited for  In-person or Online  Languages this is available in  Key words  Facilitated by 
Communicating with Light  This workshop will delve into how we communicate and the science behind our communication technologies including WiFi and fiber optics. Participants will have the opportunity to test their own communication strategy before taking part in a head-to-head fiber optic race.  40 minutes  3rd – 5th    Available in-person or online  English  Optical communications 

Fibre optics 

Workshop 

 

IPIC 
Light into Sound  Optical communication is a method of transmitting information as light signals through fiber optic cables or free space. It is used for long-distance data transmission and high-speed internet connections. In this experiment, students will learn how this signal can be used to encode sound information onto a laser. Students will have the opportunity to build their own laser transmitter and receiver system.  40 minutes  3rd – 5th    Available in-person or online  English 

German 

Optical communications 

Fibre optics 

Lasers 

Communication 

Electronics 

Workshop 

Hands-on making  

 

IPIC 

 

 

Career Talks

Our researchers conduct in-class or virtual talks career talks. This initiative encourages students to consider studying science at third level, illustrates scientific career opportunities and enhances their scientific awareness. Our researchers come from diverse backgrounds, countries and cultures to conduct world-class research in Cork. Their career paths are inspiring and insightful and can broaden student’s imaginations to include career paths they may not have considered beforehand. Talks will last 30 – 40 minutes. If you would like your class to avail of a career talk please submit an expression of interest form. Visits are subject to availability and are limited.

 

Transition Year Work Placement

Tyndall takes part in two structured Transition Year Work Experience Programmes each year. They are the ‘HighTechElec TY Programme’ and the ‘Tyndall TY Programme’. Details about these programmes can be found below:

HighTechElec TY Programme

The ‘High Tech Elec’ is a collaboration between CEIA, Tyndall, UCC, MTU and CEIA member companies, developed to give TY students an insight into the high tech careers open to them in industry and academia. The programme is co-ordinated and organised by CEIA.

Participating students undertake a week of physics, electronics and technology based workshops, lectures, career talks, and industry placement, culminating in an innovation competition – the TechnoDen. This unique structured one-week programme provides a positive experience for pupils genuinely interested in taking up a science or engineering career.

Students must submit an application form for consideration to CEIA. Applications open typically sometime between November – January and are available from the CEIA website.
Not every student who applies will be offered a place. The decision of the reviewing committee is final. If a student is offered a place on the programme, participation in the full week is required.

The Tyndall TY Programme

The Tyndall TY week Programme gives transition year secondary school students a flavour of a week in the life of a researcher in our world-class research facility as well as the opportunity to learn about topics like electronics, sensors, materials science, electrochemistry, photonics and physics through talks, demonstrations and lab tours and hands on activities. 

As part of the programme, students will also be assigned a ‘mini project’ to research on during the week based on the Institutes area of work. Each student must research their assigned topic area and create a presentation in teams of 2-3, which they will present on for 5 mins each at the end of the week. 

Applications will open up in the middle of October and students will be able to apply to the programme on the Tyndall Website during that time. There are a limited number of places and each application will be weighted and assessed. Students will be notified regarding the outcome of their application by the end of October. 

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