€5,000 good reasons to study science

SHANNON pharmacist, Séadn Hillery of has called for more incentives to study sciences at third level.

Mr Hillery said that there is a need to encourage young people to pursue careers in the sciences and that’s why he and his pharmacist wife, Valerie Normoyle, from Ennis, initiated the annual €5,000 scholarship programme.

The bursary will be expended over the duration of undergraduate studies and students are required to pass college exams each year. Valerie Normoyle

“It is important for us to encourage and support participation in the study of science and to dispel beliefs that science is either too difficult or points in science subjects are too hard to achieve. Science is a universal qualification. It opens up many opportunities for students and has a practical application in the real world.”

Mr Hillery suggested that increased incentives to study the sciences at third level would address a shortfall in sought after science skills, slow down the brain drain and aid the economic recovery in Ireland. At a time when the number of students taking honours maths has risen by 70% since 2011, he said there are real opportunities for new approaches to attract more students to the sciences.

Niamh Sexton from Mullagh, a former student at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point was the 2013 recipient. She is now studying Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Limerick.
The scholarship is open to any student currently studying chemistry, physics or biology in any second level school in Clare, sitting the Leaving Cert this June and planning to study a science related course in an Irish or British University from the autumn.

Information and application forms are available through the schools and the deadline for completion of application forms is April 30, including the submission of a current CV and personal statement.

Application forms can be downloaded from www.normoyles.com and www.rxshannon.com, from LCETB (VEC) and the Clare Education Centre.