Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Denis Naughten and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, for giving us the opportunity to speak on this topic as we celebrate Science Week 2023. This occasion provides us with an invaluable opportunity to recognise the importance of STEM in our society and to reflect on the progress we have made in these fields. I have spoken at length over the years about the power of science to shape our world, and how our choices in research in this field echo our aspirations for the future and the injustices and challenges we seek to address.

I will use this speaking opportunity not only to reiterate these points, but to also highlight the need to increase equity and inclusion in our education system to encourage more young people to get involved in STEM. Last month in the BT Young Scientist of the year award winners, Liam Carew and Shane O’Connor, secured second place when they brought their project to an EU-wide competition. This shows how much a small country like Ireland punches above its weight when it can place this highly when competing at EU level. Imagine how successful we could be if we extended opportunities of engaging in STEM to communities historically left out of the conversation. A recent survey of secondary school students shows that pupils not thinking they are smart enough, a lack of confidence, and not enough information on the benefits of a career in STEM are among the most common reasons why they do not pursue a career in the field.

While Ireland has enjoyed great successes domestically and internationally in STEM, will the Minister of State explain how he believes this success might possibly continue when the latest available data shows an unprecedented shortfall of more than 800 vacant teaching posts across primary school classes, undermining the education of pupils with the greatest needs? This is against a backdrop of a budget labelled by the Teachers Union of Ireland “as baffling as it is worrying". Teachers are leaving this country in their droves as a result of the appalling conditions in which they are expected to work. There are young people with limitless potential in the field of STEM who will not have the luxury of pursuing it because they do not have the teacher to nurture that interest. The Government parties like to talk about Ireland’s economic success due to their policies, but they have created an education system that will result in the loss of thousands of brilliant potential minds in STEM simply because there are inadequate resources to nurture their talent.

Another survey focuses on a topic that I have brought up year on year when the opportunity presents itself. A country-wide survey of more than 2,000 female transition year students found that 64% of respondents saw a lack of information on STEM college courses as a considerable barrier to pursuing careers in these fields. This highlights a missed opportunity for our society to benefit from the diverse perspectives and talents that girls and women can bring to STEM disciplines. We cannot afford to overlook the potential contribution of half of our population in these critical areas of innovation and progress.

This example does not even begin to cover how marginalised communities miss out. Women from working class communities are least likely to participate in STEM courses in school, hardly ever take STEM courses in college and are rarely seen in leadership positions in STEM industries. Never mind a seat at the table, members of working-class and lower income communities are not even encouraged with the idea that this world might be one to which they can contribute and improve.

This week, the RTÉ docu-drama "Tomorrow Tonight" began. The programme envisions the eve of a make-or-break climate summit in the year 2050, guiding viewers through breaking news moments on a seismic night, as climate change pushes the planet to a moment of crisis. Speaking on what she wishes to achieve, one of the programme's presenters , Ms Carla O’Brien said she hoped the use of technologies like augmented reality would help viewers to better understand the facts and science behind what is a defining issue of our generation. It is a perfect example of the kind of material that can be produced when the arts and technology come together to create accessible content which explains what can often be complex technological information on a platform that is available to all. However, programmes like this are few and far between. Increased funding for the arts would be invaluable in spreading awareness of the scientific and technological information that will be imperative for protecting and enhancing our future.

The power of combining arts and STEM to increase access and awareness of important issues cannot be underestimated. While I applaud the Government for initiatives such as the STEM in Youth Work project, which is an excellent way to engage younger people in STEM, unless systematic failures on the part of the State to address historic levels of inequality are addressed, schemes like this present a piecemeal approach, at best.

The theme for Science Week 2023 is ‘Human?’ It asks people to consider what it means to be human in today’s world, and how the decisions we make today will impact the world of the future. I do have to think about how stark this theme might seem against the backdrop of the consequences of decisions made over the past couple of decades that have left so many children in Ireland without homes and living in abject poverty. How does the Minister think a child living in a hotel room, emergency accommodation or overcrowded housing might find the time to focus on endeavours like furthering their learning in science or technology? During Covid, one of the debates we had centred on the issue of access to technology. Many children did not have access to a table to place a laptop, even if they had one. Why not use Science Week as a catalyst for change? It should be a wake up call for the Government to finally foster an environment where every young person has the opportunity to pursue their passions in STEM, regardless of where they may come from.

We can and should build a more inclusive and innovative society for generations to come. Science and technology will play a big part in that.

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