Dundalk IT showcases biggest Science Week yet

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) marked Science Week 2025 with its most ambitious programme to date, engaging learners across the North East and reinforcing the institute’s leadership in STEM outreach, education, and public engagement.

This year’s expanded programme featured a mix of high-impact talks, hands-on workshops, career events, and national-level research representation, reaching primary, secondary, and adult audiences across Louth, Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin.

To kickstart the week, Dr Orla Sherlock and Mary Ellen Kelledy joined renowned science communicator Dr. Niamh Shaw at the Louth Science Festival in Dundalk Library to share career insights and encouraged students to explore pathways in science and engineering.

The duo then joined a live-streamed Women in STEM podcast at Ó Fiaich Institute, attracting over 400 in-person and online participants, highlighting opportunities for women in STEM in Ireland. The team also launched the annual DkIT Loves STEM Roadshow at Dundalk Grammar School, promoting local third-level pathways and raising awareness of STEM careers.

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During the week, Dr. Sinéad Loughran gave a compelling talk at the Cavan Monaghan Science Festival, discussing how viruses influence society and the role scientific advances play in responding to them.

Drawing on Irish data and real-world cases, she highlighted historical trends in childhood diseases and outlined how national immunisation programmes have affected those patterns. She also described the development of mRNA technology—associated with Nobel Prize winners Karikó and Weissman—and its growing use in vaccine research.

As conversations around vaccination become more divided and illnesses such as measles reappear in some regions, she stressed the importance of evidence-based discussion, cooperation, and public trust in addressing global health challenges.

Dr. Loughran also gave a talk to a group of 50 TY students in St. Vincent’s Castleknock College, Dublin for an in-depth session on HPV, viruses, and vaccines, where students showed strong engagement and asked informed, insightful questions throughout.

Showcasing DkIT’s research excellence on a national stage, Dr. Loughran also represented the institute at the Oireachtas Posters in Parliament event.

Hands-on learning was another highlight of the week. Dr. Pilar Marcos delivered engaging microbiology sessions at Aston Village Educate Together in Drogheda, Beech Hill College in Monaghan, and Ardee Community School, introducing students to microbes and their roles in food science, health, and the environment.

Further outreach saw contributions from Mitchell Mercer, who presented to students at the Royal Belfast Academic Institution, and Dr. Bernard Drumm, who spoke at Ardee Community School.

Dr. Siobhán Jordan brought STEM to life for 145 pupils at St. Brigid’s NS, Laragh, Cavan—from Junior Infants to 6th Class. Students became H2O Heroes, exploring environmental science by catching and identifying macroinvertebrates, experimented with physics using a Van de Graaff generator and lasers, learned veterinary skills, and discovered the importance of handwashing through Glo Germ and UV light demonstrations.

Recent TrailblazHER Award winners Dr. Caroline Gilleran and Dr. Suzanne Linnane hosted Cell Explorer and Fantastic DNA in a Box workshops, bringing biology to life at the Louth Science Festival and in classrooms across the region.

Reflecting on the success of Science Week, Dr. Orla Sherlock, DkIT STEM Outreach Coordinator, said: “Science Week 2025 has set a new benchmark for outreach at DkIT, reinforcing our commitment to making STEM accessible, engaging, and relevant for learners of all ages.”

She added: “The excitement doesn’t stop here. Due to overwhelming demand, DkIT has planned several additional STEM initiatives later this year, including Dr. Chiara Hanlon hosting the Pharma Lab, Dr. Fiona Hackett presenting Ex-Her-cise—an innovative science and fitness workshop—and the DkIT Loves STEM team partnering with iWISH for a campus-based STEM experience.”

With its largest Science Week to date, DkIT continues to drive STEM engagement across the region, fostering curiosity, confidence, and ambition in the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and innovators.

Schools can book all upcoming events via the DkIT “For Schools” outreach website.