Students from Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School and Coláiste na hInse in Bettystown recently took part in a new science outreach initiative led by Dundalk Institute of Technology.
The programme places DkIT undergraduate students at the centre of STEM engagement with local schools while also helping them develop communication, leadership and teamwork skills.
The initiative forms part of a redesign of Year 3 science programmes at DkIT and aims to better prepare students for a wider range of careers, including teaching, science communication and other public facing STEM roles.
Research has shown that many science graduates move into careers outside laboratory research, while employers consistently rank communication and teamwork among the most important graduate skills.
The new outreach module was developed by Dr Orla Sherlock, Microbiology Lecturer and Outreach Coordinator at DkIT, in collaboration with Dr Chiara Hanlon, following feedback from students interested in alternative STEM career paths.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr Sherlock said:
“This module allows our students to graduate not only with strong scientific knowledge, but with the communication, leadership and civic skills employers are actively seeking. The initiative also creates a sustainable pipeline of trained outreach facilitators allowing us to strengthen links between higher education and schools. At the same time, schools benefit from high quality, curriculum relevant STEM engagement.”
As part of the first rollout of the module in 2026, 11 undergraduate students worked together to redesign a classroom resource called “Science in a Box” before delivering it in schools across the North East.
The workshops focused on antimicrobial resistance, a major global health issue linked to DkIT’s One Health framework.
Students designed three interactive activities for the workshops including a sweets modelling exercise based on penicillin resistance, a science themed “Horse Race” activity and an antimicrobial resistance play doh art challenge.
The workshops were delivered to around 240 second level students in April at Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School, Coláiste na hInse Bettystown and St Louis Secondary School in Dundalk.
One DkIT student involved in delivering the workshops said:
“This Outreach module helped me strengthen my teamwork and communication skills, as I worked closely with others to design and deliver engaging activities at the same time it improved my confidence in explaining scientific concepts.”
According to organisers, 96 per cent of school students said they learned something new while also enjoying the experience.
Chemistry teacher Val Veen from Coláiste na hInse said the workshops gave students a valuable insight into science beyond the classroom.
“The DkIT ‘Science in a Box’ workshop provided our students with an invaluable hands-on look at the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. By moving beyond the textbook and into practical activity, the session made microbiology both accessible and engaging. It sparked a fantastic buzz in our classroom and hopefully inspires many of our students to consider a future career in science.”
The DkIT students also hosted a second outreach event earlier this month as part of the “DkIT Loves STEM” campus event, welcoming 125 Transition Year girls from five secondary schools to the science labs on campus.
Future groups taking part in the module will work with local industry partners to create outreach activities linked to STEM opportunities in the region.
Schools and partners interested in engaging with DkIT outreach initiatives can find further information at: https://www.dkit.ie/p/science-outreach.html
