On March 5th, 2026, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, and Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD announced that almost €6 million in funding would be used to support thirty-two projects designed to engage the public in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through the Research Ireland Discover Programme.
The Research Ireland Discover Programme is a national initiative to widen participation in STEM. This year's projects will engage with people of all ages, from early childhood through to adulthood, through creative, community-embedded, and inclusive approaches to STEM engagement.
Research Ireland Discover Programme awards NCI
NCI's STEM for All: Multiple Inclusive STEM Engagements for Families, Communities project, led by Professor Paul Stynes, Dean of the School of Computing, has been awarded €60,000.00 in funding.
About the project
The STEM for All project builds on Research Ireland funded programming, supporting STEM identities, skills, and aspirations of children and families facing significant socio-economic challenges in Dublin's Inner City by creating multiple, accessible, inclusive opportunities for disenfranchised families to gain confidence, competence, and a sense of belonging in STEM, and the research and innovation world
Professor Paul Stynes, Dean of NCI's School of Computing, shares, "This funding allows us to further advance our research into inclusive STEM education, building a stronger evidence base on what works in engaging children and families from underrepresented communities. As Principal Investigator, it enables us to evolve and scale our programmes in a way that is both research-informed and community-driven, strengthening pathways into STEM from an early age through to future study and careers.
It also reinforces NCI's role in leading impactful, inclusive research that connects education, community engagement, and long-term societal outcomes."
NCI's Early Learning Initiative (ELI) is a grassroots public purpose project addressing systemic inequalities; empowering at-risk children to discover their STEM identities through creative, engaging experiences that encourage scientific thinking.
STEM is embedded across ELI's early intervention programmes: STEM Play & Learn (home visits, ages 4–6), weekly Coding Clubs (ages 7–12), Senior Coding Club (ages 13–16), STEM events for families. Local advocacy, accessible family learning, and parent engagement are central to inclusive education, building science capital, and resilient communities.
Recognising parents' profound role in shaping children's learning outcomes and aspirations, ELI's programming expands, incorporating insights from their 2024 Parental Attitudes to STEM and Digital Technology research, including findings from in-depth case studies exploring long-term STEM engagement in disadvantaged families.
To deepen impact and engagement several new elements will be introduced: Think Like a Scientist pilot, an initiative aimed at bridging a gap in children's scientific understanding through inquiry-based learning; bespoke parent technology clinics; and STEM 101 sessions demystifying core concepts, giving parents tools to support their child's learning. In parallel, ELI is developing longitudinal analysis framework exploring how sustained participation in the STEM programmes influences young people's aspirations and progression to third-level education.
Brigina O'Riordan, Assistant Director of ELI's Community Services Programmes, shares, "This funding will enable children and families in Dublin Inner City to engage in high quality, accessible, and engaging STEM learning experiences, building confidence, curiosity, and awareness in the scientific method. This programme is intentionally designed to promote access, inclusion, and diversity, with strong participation from underrepresented groups, supported by NCI as a safe and welcoming community space."
Researc...

NCI commended by Research Ireland and the Education Awards