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TRINITY’S GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT ISSUES 60,000 ROCK SAMPLES TO IRISH SCHOOLS

Helping children understand the workings of the planet

The project began in 2005 when a core component of geology was included for the first time in the new Leaving Certificate syllabus in geography. This change led to an urgent need to assist teachers who had few practical resources.

In 2008 Trinity’s Department of Geology put together sets of Six Common Kinds of Rock from Ireland and distributed them, free of charge, to nearly 5,000 schools in the country – primary and secondary, North and South. Over 60,000 rock samples (10 tons) were distributed – the equivalent of two skip fulls of rock.

The 2005 phase of the project was funded by Whelan’s Limestone Quarries Ltd. The 2008 expanded phase is funded by a Griffith Award (funded by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources through the Geological Survey of Ireland) and Tullow Oil.

"This resource will inspire teachers and children alike to explore and understand the workings of the planet, especially in an era of fast depleting natural resources and an impending energy crisis."
Dr Ian Sanders, Department of Geology TCD

www.tcd.ie/Geology

Pictured: Dr Ian Sanders pictured with Anna Sargent.


POSTGRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDY SUPPORT

Enhancing an international dimension of College academic research

Provision of funding for postgraduate research students allows them to attend conferences and workshops, make field trips and visit laboratories abroad.

This project was supported by the TCD Association & Trust in 2007/08, see page 28

"Travel to seminars & abroad can make a great impact on a student’s engagement with their discipline, and enhances an international dimension of the College academic research."
Carol O’Sullivan, Dean of Graduate Studies

www.tcd.ie/alumni/aboutus/tcdtrust.php


IMMIGRANT YOUTH RESEARCH PROJECT

Understanding the experiences and needs of Ireland’s migrant youth

Integrating Ireland and TCD’s Children's Research Centre launched a new research study, the Immigrant Youth Research Project, which aims to gain an understanding of what are the key experiences and issues for migrant young people. The study will explore how they find life in Ireland, looking at issues such as school, friendship, recreation, relations with 'local' young people and much more.

The Children's Research Centre is a specialist centre, established in 1995 which undertakes multidisciplinary policy and practice-relevant research into the lives of children and young people and the contexts in which they live their lives.

This project is part of the Trinity Immigration Initiative bringing together key strands of Trinity’s strategies in research, teaching and contribution to society, positioning the University to play an influential role in developing a more inclusive, multicultural society for Ireland’s future. This work has been made possible by a major grant from AIB Bank plc.

www.tcd.ie/immigration

Pictured: Minister Conor Lenihan at the launch of the Immigrant Research Project in Trinity.