St Mary's pupils showcase skills during visit to Alexion in Athlone
Sixth class pupils from St Mary’s Primary School in Athlone recently visited local pharmaceutical firm Alexion to take part in the final showcase event of this year's 'STEAM in a Box' (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) programme.
Working in teams over a number of weeks, pupils collaborated with Alexion volunteers to explore a range of engineering concepts through hands-on design challenges.
The pupils' projects included designing and constructing prosthetic hands, building model bridges, creating electrical circuits, designing windmills and developing pulley systems.
Each challenge encouraged pupils to think creatively, apply scientific and mathematical knowledge, and work together to solve problems.
The showcase event provided pupils with the opportunity to bring their projects to Alexion and present them to staff and management at the conpany's premises in Monksland.
Each group explained the purpose of their project, demonstrated how it worked, and reflected on the design process they had followed.
Pupils discussed the challenges they encountered along the way and how they adapted their ideas, tested solutions and learned from mistakes to improve their final designs.
Throughout the programme, the St Mary's pupils experienced many of the skills used by real engineers every day. They brainstormed ideas, collaborated with teammates, evaluated different solutions and persevered when faced with setbacks.
The emphasis on teamwork and problem-solving helped pupils develop confidence while gaining a deeper understanding of how engineering can be used to improve people's lives and solve practical problems.
The pupils were welcomed by Alexion site lead, Gertjan Horsthuis, and senior manager for knowledge transfer, Michael Doyle, who spoke to them about the importance of curiosity, innovation, teamwork and lifelong learning.
Both commended the pupils on the quality of their work, their creativity and the confidence they displayed during their presentations.
Alexion staff were highly impressed by the standard of the projects and the professionalism shown by the pupils throughout the showcase. Pupils confidently answered questions, explained their thinking and demonstrated the knowledge and skills they had developed during the programme.
St Mary's principal Ailish McManus praised the partnership between the school and Alexion, highlighting the valuable opportunities it provides for pupils to engage with science, technology and engineering in a meaningful and authentic way.
St Mary's Primary School extended its sincere thanks to the Alexion volunteers whose expertise, enthusiasm and generosity made the programme possible. Their support gave pupils a unique insight into the world of engineering and innovation while inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers and creators.
The school looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with Alexion and STEAM education, providing future opportunities for pupils to explore STEAM through hands-on, real-world learning experiences.