'Our goal is to empower teachers and to inspire students': Limerick schools strike gold

TWENTY-seven primary schools in Limerick have received the 2025 Research Ireland Curious Minds Award, recognising their commitment to science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education through hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

Of the Limerick schools awarded, 19 received the Gold Award, four earned the Silver Award, and four achieved the Platinum Award. A total of 11 DEIS schools in the county were among the recipients.

The Curious Minds Awards are part of an annual initiative funded by Research Ireland, aimed at promoting STEM education at the primary level across the country. The programme encourages pupils, educators, and families to engage in practical STEM activities such as rocket launches, biodiversity studies, vegetable cultivation, coding, marble runs, and real-world problem solving.

Speaking about the 2025 awards, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, said: “I’m proud to announce the 2025 Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards, recognising the outstanding efforts of 397 schools across the country.

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“Seeing so many students and schools dedicate themselves to learning and fostering a love for science, technology, engineering, and maths is a testament to the incredible work happening in classrooms across Ireland. These awards celebrate the spirit of curiosity, creativity, and discovery that programmes like Curious Minds ignite in young minds.

“Strengthening STEM skills from an early age is essential to empowering our children to shape the world around them as innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders. Initiatives like this help equip the next generation with the tools to thrive in a rapidly changing world. My sincere congratulations to all the students, teachers, and schools involved for your inspiring commitment.”

Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive Officer at Research Ireland, added: “I am extremely proud to see the continued interest in, and impact of, the Research Ireland Curious Minds programme. The appetite for engagement through fun, practical STEM learning within our school community is so evident.

 “Our goal is to empower teachers and to inspire students, showing the younger generation that STEM is not just a subject, but a way of exploring, understanding, and shaping the world around them.”

To mark the announcement, a virtual awards ceremony was hosted in classrooms nationwide by TV presenters Gráinne Bleasdale and Phil Smyth.

Registration for the 2025/2026 Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards opens in September 2025. Registration for the CPD courses is currently open.

More information is available by contacting the programme team at curiousminds@researchireland.ie.