Twenty Donegal schools win Science Foundation Ireland’s Curious Minds Awards

Twenty primary schools in Donegal have been awarded the 2023 Curious Minds Award, celebrating primary schools across Ireland that have adopted innovative approaches to STEM learning and engagement.

“I am delighted to announce the 20 winners of this year’s Science Foundation Ireland Curious Minds Awards from Donegal,” Minister Simon Harris, TD, said. “I want to congratulate all involved for their hard work and enthusiasm. Through programmes such as the Curious Minds Awards, we see first-hand teachers and schools empowering curiosity through a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to STEM learning.”

“The high level of engagement this year can be credited to the schools and teachers who have put effort into giving their students access to STEM in a fun, interactive and educational way.”

The Science Foundation Ireland programme, run in conjunction with the European Space Education Resource Office, aims to increase interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) among primary school students, parents, and teachers nationwide in a fun and interactive way.

The awards were granted for a wide range of innovative and engaging STEM activities from investigating renewable energy, growing vegetables, mini-beast hunts, learning about materials and maths through baking, design and make challenges, marble runs, enhancing their technology skills through coding, and using STEM to solve everyday problems.

Primary Schools received awards in three categories: The Silver Award, recognising schools entering for the first time; the Gold Award, for schools further along their STEM journey; and the Platinum Award, for schools who have achieved previous awards and want to integrate STEM into the community further.

This year, 16 Donegal schools received the Gold Award and four received the Silver Award.
Winners:
Gold
Creeslough National School, Creeslough - Gold Award
Cloughfin National School, Lifford - Gold Award
Scoil Naomh Fiachra - Gold Award
Inver National School (N.S.) - Gold Award
Scoil Fhionáin - Gold Award
Robertson National School - Gold Award
Dromore National School - Gold Award
Scoil An Linbh Íosa - Gold Award
Scoil Adhamhnáin - Gold Award
Scoil Naisiunta Crannaighe Buidhe - Gold Award
Scoil Naisiunta Muire Gan Smal - Gold Award
Min A Ghabhann National School - Gold Award
Scoil Naomh Fionán - Gold Award
Scoil Naisiunta Chill Coinnigh - Gold Award
Scoil Cholmcille Máigh Rua - Gold Award
Gaelscoil Na Gceithre Máistrí - Gold Award
Silver
Glenswilly National School - Silver Award
Scoil Cholmcille - Silver Award
Scoil An Chaisil - Silver Award
Scoil Mhuire B&C, Stranorlar - Silver Award