Tipperary was well represented at this year’s BD STEM Stars awards

Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed and Presentation Secondary School from Thurles did Tipp proud this week with their participation in the BD STEM Stars Awards.

BD STEM STARS is an initiative from BD Research Centre Ireland that aims to promote participation in STEM subjects and demonstrate how they can be applied to solving real-life health issues.

Now in its fourth year, the initiative is open to all secondary schools in the Mid-West.

BD STEM Stars Awards, Site Lead for BD’s Research Center Ireland (RCI) in Limerick Seán Wall said that the standard of innovation amongst the participating schools was hugely encouraging for STEM related sectors.

“The BD STEM Stars Awards are a source of great pride across the BD network here in Ireland and beyond, and the first-hand experience I got today confirmed for me why that is. First and foremost, it’s a wonderful initiative and effort by the team here at RCI to stage this competition in partnership with LCETB as there’s no small amount of work involved in coordinating a programme like this with schools across the region.

“What was equally noticeable was the spirit of collaboration between our team and the schools, which was so positive to see.
“But above all, it was the passion, the excitement, and the innovation that the students and their teachers brought to the event that stood out, and it reaffirms why it has become such an important event, not just for BD but for STEM in our region,” said Mr Wall.

Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles students at the prestigious BD STEM Star awards for 2023 held at BD’s Research Centre Ireland (RCI) in Limerick. Picture: Brian Arthur

Fifteen secondary schools from counties Tipperary and Clare were welcomed by Mr Wall and his team to the RCI for the finals, creating a chamber of colour, excitement and no shortage of innovation across the day as they presented their individual projects and were given tours of the state-of-the-art research centre.

The BD 2023 STEM Stars Award, which is supported by the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB), is the biggest such awards programme in the region.

Desmond College walked away with the top prize, including a €10,000 fund towards STEM related facilities at their school, but Tipperary was well represented in the finals.

To find out more about the BD STEM Stars programme and participants, visit https://emea.jobs.bd.com/