The World Needs You! STEM South West Expo 2024
12th November 2024
STEM South West is back for its sixth year, promising to be the biggest and best one yet – this time taking over Cork City Hall on Wednesday November 20th from 4pm to 8pm. Event organisers are calling on secondary students, parents and teachers to join them for an exciting afternoon journey within the world of STEM.
The theme of this year’s Expo is “The World Needs You: Solving Global Challenges with STEM”.
The event will showcase how STEM careers and a STEM education can address real-world problems that impact climate change, healthcare, robotics, AI and medtech.
To maintain Ireland’s position as a leading global hub for tech, pharma, medtech, engineering and bioscience industries,
STEM South West estimate that at least 20pc of Ireland’s 964,000 primary and secondary students[1] will be needed to go on to study STEM.
In support of that effort, it is joining forces with industry and education partners on this live showcase event. FREE for all, they will be welcomed from all corners of the country to get a glimpse into the exciting possibilities and opportunities that await them in any STEM field they choose.
The impact of previous events has been noteworthy, with 9 out of 10 students expressing an increased interest in pursuing a career in STEM after attending the event.
An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence speaking at the event launch, “This initiative continues to promote, empower and encourage young people to explore STEM opportunities across industry sectors that significantly contribute to our nation’s economic growth. Investment in knowledge has always been our greatest enabler and STEM South West – with its widespread industry and education partner base – is opening doors for our young people. I wish the organising team, the exhibitors and all of the visiting students, parents, teachers every success and an enjoyable immersive experience.”
Mary Good, Chair, STEM South West commented, “Ireland offers an incredible range of opportunities to students that choose to study STEM subjects. These subjects not only serve as the bedrock for so many careers but can also be the ticket for students and young graduates to explore the world, discover, learn and find new ways and means to make a positive impact on themselves and on the lives of others. Every step towards positive change matters as our global society faces critical issues around health, climate change, housing, energy and the very future of how we live and work. Investing in those that will hold the future in their hands, inspiring and equipping them to learn, lead and innovate is the right thing to do.
The work that STEM South West is doing is necessary to ensure that our current STEM industry base is secure, that companies continue to locate in Ireland, that our start-ups and SMEs are given the opportunity to thrive, and that the students of today are given the skills to tackle the global challenges of tomorrow.
STEM South West is driving a collective response to this – by showcasing the incredible range of opportunities that the STEM sector has to offer across the South West.”
The enthusiastic participation of industry experts and organisations underscores the significance of this event in fostering the ongoing growth and prosperity of STEM industries in the region.
Teachers and Guidance Counsellors will have a dedicated section at the event, where they can learn first-hand about the career options now available in the STEM sector in this region.
John Morrissy, CIO of PepsiCo, shared his vision for the event, which is sponsored by PepsiCo, “We are delighted to sponsor the 2024 STEM South West Expo.
PepsiCo is home to hundreds of beloved brands, which support thousands of technical jobs, including R&D, engineering and IT. STEM leaders in these fields create the foundation for future success.
Together, they show how science, technology and engineering can unlock creativity that inspires. We look forward to meeting the STEM leaders of tomorrow at Cork City Hall on November 20th”.
Visitors will get to explore exhibits from some of the biggest employers in the country, including Johnson & Johnson, DePuy Synthes, Stryker, Gilead Sciences, Astellas, PM Group, MTU, UCC, Analog Devices, Horner, Astellas, and many more.
Tickets can be booked at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/stem-south-west-expo-2024-tickets-1022537105007
Pictured from left: John Morrissey, PepsiCo; Lily Morrissey, Mount Mercy Sec. School; An Tánaiste Micheál Martin; Hanah O’Driscoll, St. Angela’s College; Gearoid Kelly, Ashton Secondary School and Mary Good, Chair, STEM South West.
[1] https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-mip/measuringirelandsprogress2022/education/
