Calmast - Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science and Technology
Calmast was established in 2003 at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) allowing Sheila Donegan and Eoin Gill to continue and develop the work they had been doing since the mid 1990s in promoting science and engineering. In that time they have reached hundreds of thousands of people with science supplements and publications and over a hundred thousand at events and activities.Calmast directors are the only Irish recipients of the Descartes Award for Science Communication and were awarded the Engineers Ireland inaugural Award for Science, Engineering and Technology Awareness in 2007.
Scifest the Regional Science Fair will run at WIT on April 25th 2012 see here for more
Calmast runs four annual festivals:
Bealtaine Festival of Outdoor Science - This festival "Celebrates our Living Earth" and happens in May (Bealtaine in the Irish language)each year. Again this is a partnership between all interested in biodiversity, environment and any science outdoors in the diverse and beautiful landscapes of the Southeast of Ireland.
Southeast Science Week- Calmast organises science week throughout the Southeast every November as part of National Science Week.
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Waterford Engineering Week - the centre now runs this in conjunction with Engineers Ireland's Engineering week |
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Maths Week Ireland - this annual celebration of mathematics runs in the north and south of Ireland in October . Maths Week Ireland is a cooperative movement of all interested in the promotion of mathematics in Ireland.
CALMAST also supports major national science events such as
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
and
The CALMAST team
The activities of Calmast are directed by Sheila Donegan and Eoin Gill and developed and delivered in partnership with dedicated staff of WIT and in a wider partnership involving teachers, schools, local authorities, industry and other groups.
Other Groups
The centre actively supports and cooperates with other groups including -
iSCAN - Calmast is actively involved in the work of iSCAN (pronounced "eye scan") Irish Science Centres Awareness Network, with Eoin Gill being the current Chair.
Darwin200 Ireland - as 2009 is the 200th Anniversary of the birth of one of the most important scientists of all times - Charles Darwin the centre was heavily involved with promoting this celebration throughout the Island of Ireland through iSCAN.
Euscea - Calmast are active members and supporters of Euscea (pronounced "you see") the European Science Events Association. The European cooperation is extremely important in promoting STEM. Sheila Donegan is a board member and current treasurer of Euscea.
TreeClub - Calmast is working with students to nurture their interest in natural science and environmental issues via a tree distribution program.
Calmast can be contacted at calmast@wit.ie
