Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin TD, launches the Fás Science Challenge Primary Project

At St Columba’s National School, Douglas, Cork

I am delighted to be here today (Monday 3^{r d} October 2005) to launch the FAS Science Challenge Primary School Competition. I would like to thank both of your principals, Mr. Murphy and Ms. Cashman for making this day possible and for your wonderful warm welcome.

The wonders of science and the world of opportunities it opens up are immense. The Science Challenge offers children, perhaps even one of you here today, the chance to enjoy and explore science at one of the leading centres of excellence for science and innovation in the World – the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Fifteen lucky pupils will be selected from throughout the country, to take part in one of the most exciting science projects on offer to primary school pupils. They will take part in an activity packed week with the Florida Space Academy. I understand they will be part of a Space Mission team, learn how to build rockets and robots, launch their own weather balloons and find out first hand about the environment and wildlife of Florida while learning solutions and new approaches to everyday challenges. They will have the chance to put all they have read in books into practice. I am sure that this competition will capture the enthusiasm and energy of all those who take part - I just wish I was a year or two younger so I could apply.

I have been told by your teachers that you are all experts at Science and I am confident that your expertise will help you greatly in completing the Science Challenge. I am sure you all watched Space Shuttle Discovery as it launched into Space earlier this year, wasn’t it fantastic to see it take off and complete it’s mission successfully. Just imagine you could be part of your very own space shuttle mission next March. I am sure that many of you would like to follow in Capt. Scott’s footsteps, it was fascinating to learn about space from someone who has been on not one but two space shuttle missions and who has walked in Space!

As you all know Astronauts have a big team of people who support them, but one of the most important things is what they learnt from their teachers as they are growing up. As Capt. Scott will no doubt agree, all astronauts need to know about maths and science to be able to do all the important work they have to carry out in Space. So we must remember how important our teachers are in our lives, and I would like to acknowledge your input and enthusiasm in moulding these young people into Ireland’s future.

The Science Challenge Primary Project is aimed at getting primary school pupils to become more aware of the growing importance of science and technology in all our lives. Instilling this interest at this crucial stage of a pupil's educational development may help to address the future skills needs of Irish industry.

The Primary Project is just one of a number of projects developed by FAS under the Science Challenge initiative. To-date over 120 Irish students have participated in projects since 2003 with the Florida Space Authority and Kennedy Space Centre, from primary school pupils to third level graduates and apprentices. The links that have been established with the Florida Space Authority and now NASA in Houston by FAS have opened up an extensive array of opportunities for Ireland in the Science and Technology sectors.

Next week a team of twenty students from Universities and Institutes of Technology throughout Ireland are due to depart for the US to take part in the FAS Science Challenge Internship programme with private industry and universities based in Houston, Texas and Florida. They all have the opportunity to work and learn alongside leading world experts and to bring back to Ireland the knowledge and expertise they have gained. They represent a wide range of industry sectors in Ireland from Apprentice Aircraft Mechanics and Motor Mechanics to Researchers from UCC, Trinity and UCD.

I would like to thank, the Director General of FAS, Rody Molloy, the Florida Space Authority, NASA and Biolink USA-Ireland for their continued support which has ensured the ongoing success of The Science Challenge. Their foresight and ingenuity will ensure access for Irish students and employees to leading technologies which assist not only them, but their employers and Ireland to maximise possibilities and opportunities in the future.

This initiative complements the Government's policy of ensuring that Ireland continues to be recognised as a knowledge based society. The project is in addition to a number of proactive measures being undertaken at all levels through the Government's Discover Science and Engineering programme. We will continue to take an active role in supporting measures such as the Science Challenge to ensure that Ireland continues to be recognised as possessing a highly skilled, talented and educated workforce.

To each of you who enter the competition I hope it will inspire you to investigate, explore and learn more about the many different exciting science and technology advancements that have been made. I hope it will encourage you to follow in the footsteps of other great Irish Scientists and inventors and to represent Ireland on the world stage in the future.

Just before we finish up, I would like to especially thank Capt. Scott for taking the time to be with us here today.

Best of luck with your mission children – I now officially launch the FAS Science Challenge Primary School Programme.

ENDS

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