Midlands Science partnered with Dr Helena Bonner, a Neuroscientist at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, as well as an Outreach officer at the Centre for Systems Medicine, RCSI to provide informative virtual talks for a number of schools across the Midlands for College Awareness Week. Dr Helena Bonner of the RCSI presented PD-MitoQUANT and Dr Niamh Connolly’s PD-MitoQUANT video as part of a STEM careers promotion roadshow throughout the Midlands of Ireland. The talk entitled “STEM Careers Talks: Different Types of Careers Available to Students who Pursue STEM subjects at 3rd level” was facilitated at three schools to 360 students in total on November 11th, 12th and 24th. There are plans to continue the roadshow in December on the second, eighth and tenth.
Helena said, ‘I am delighted to join Midlands Science and work with many other committed individuals as they continue to make great progress in promoting science as a career to people of all ages. It’s important for us to explore new ways to collectively change the face of STEM and reach out to young people to inform them on the type of research being undertaken at RCSI and to encourage them to pursue these exciting careers. I understand that it is really difficult to give the students the usual Transition Year experience this year. We would normally hold a three day ‘in house’ programme at the RCSI but this year it will be held virtually. Given that, I know the students will still enjoy the programme and will walk away with a little more insight of what it is like to work as a scientist or researcher in the field of Biomedical Science.’