Address by Mr. Noel Treacy T.D.Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce

at the Official Opening of Enterprise Ireland's Science Day on Sunday 11^th November 2001 at 11.00a.m. in The Round Room, The Mansion House, Dawson St., Dublin 2

I am delighted to be with you all here today, to open ‘Science in Motion', the fifth Annual Science Day, being hosted by Enterprise Ireland.

Over the past four years, Enterprise Ireland's Science Day has been a major event in our National Science Week and has been attended by over 12,000 people from all parts of this country. It is wonderful to see once again so many families and young people here today, to support this prestigious event.

Throughout the day you will see and hear a series of practical Lectures on ‘Science in Motion', which will show you how science occurs all around us. You will discover the amazing world of Bubbles, how they are made and the science behind them. You will take a step into the fascinating World of Cryogenics, with temperatures as low at –196^oC and witness what a chemical such as Liquid Nitrogen can do. In the “Forces and Motion” Show, you will get the opportunity to explore all sorts of forces and look at how we use them in our everyday lives.

This day is all about fun and creating an awareness of science among young people and showing how it impacts on all of our lives. Science is not something mysterious. Science, by its nature is the art of being curious, questioning how things happen and finding solutions. Learning about science is a fascinating journey, that can end in excellent career prospects and personal fulfilment.

The whole area of Science and Technology is one in which Ireland has an important role to play. If Ireland is to continue to participate successfully, in what has become known as the knowledge based and globalised world economy, we must become more comfortable with and literate in the world of science and technology.

There is an ever-growing need for people with scientific skills. In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of students taking up physical sciences and earlier this year, I met with the EU Ministers for Education in Sweden to discuss strategies to address this problem. It is essential to attract more young people into this field of study and to promote and increase the public understanding of the importance of science and technology, to economic and social development. Raising interest in science among our children and young people is necessary, in order to increase the number of future science professionals.

Scientific knowledge is cumulative, so children need to start learning early. The introduction of the Social Environment and Scientific Education Programme in our primary schools will hopefully provide a beginning to this awareness and understanding. Grants of £1.7M have been made available to schools to purchase science equipment. The Primary Curriculum Support Programme, a developmental project in science has already been initiated in a representative sample of schools. The aim of this project is to work with teachers in developing the methods and ranges of materials required, to teach science. Over 200 schools and 1,500 teachers are participating in this new and exciting development.

At Second Level we have revised the Syllabus for Physics and Chemistry and changed the emphasis to a more practical one. In line with this, £3m has been invested in a Development Programme for Teachers, as well as Investments for school science laboratories. We must make science more appealing to our young people.

The Science Technology and Awareness Programme, managed by Forfás, on behalf of our Office of Science and Technology, is now in its 6^th year and actively promotes science to all age groups. The objective of this programme is to encourage an interest in Science and inform people of the role that science plays in Irish Society. The Programme's Website Science.ie is an interactive Website and is an important conduit to these goals.

The Awareness Programme plays a major role in the co-ordination of Science Week, which starts today. Science Week Ireland is the celebration and demonstration of Science and Technology, in Ireland and gives people of all ages the opportunity to explore and experience the thrill of Science and Technology at firsthand, through hundreds of events which are held nationwide.

I believe that we all have a role to play in developing science in Ireland. For children, science offers an insight into how the world around us is continually evolving. Where would be without the discovery of mobile phones, computers, the internet and the many other products of new technology?

As parents, we must prepare our children for a world, vastly different from the one in which we grew up. Parents must take part in developing their children's awareness of science and what it offers, and you parents here today have taken a major step in doing this by your presence at this great event. So as you explore the world of science today, I urge you to ask questions and to open your minds to the enormous possibilities of science and technology and the exciting career prospects which it offers.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Enterprise Ireland for organising such an event, which is the start of many like it, to be held nationwide throughout Science Week. I ask you to sit back, relax and be amazed by the beauty and wonder of science in motion.