Competition was part of a Europe-led initiative to help create healthy communities.
Two primary schools in Cork have been named as winners of a national design competition which used 3D printing to respond to health challenges in their local community.
L-R: Prof Denis Dowling, director, I-Form, student from the senior autism spectrum disorder (ASD) class in CBS Primary Charleville along with Dr Triona Kennedy, senior research manager, Stryker
CBS Primary Charleville and St Patrick’s Boys’ National School in Cork were named as winners of ‘Manufacturing a Healthy Future’ – a 3D printing design challenge. The competition was initiated by I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, and Stryker, a leading medical technology company which employs approximately 4,000 people across eight facilities on the island of Ireland.
The project, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Manufacturing, challenged young pupils to design and create projects to improve health in their own community, using 3D printing as a creative tool.
I-Form, headquartered at University College Dublin, and Stryker, which has facilities in Cork, Limerick and Belfast have been working with primary school teachers throughout 2021 to empower them with the skills to bring manufacturing technology into the classroom. The programme is also running in schools in France and Estonia.
L-R: Sinèad Herlihy deputy principal, CBS Primary Charleville; Prof Denis Dowling, director, I-Form; student from the senior autism spectrum disorder (ASD) class in CBS Primary Charleville along with Dr Triona Kennedy, senior research manager, Stryker; Sandra Minogue, class teacher; Michael O'Sullivan principal, CBS Primary Charleville
Highlights to date include:
European-funded project has trained 56 teachers across three countries on how to design and print using a 3D printer.1,500 primary school children in three countries are taking part in the health challenge. In Ireland, 25 teachers and their 750 pupils are taking part in the programme.
The Senior autism spectrum disorder (ASD) class in CBS Primary Charleville designed sensory fidget toys aimed at improving well-being for themselves and their classmates. Third class in St Patrick’s designed a ‘learning desk’ aimed at helping children with autism to communicate their needs and emotions in a non-verbal way. Both schools were awarded a €2,000 technology support package for their school, along with gift vouchers for the children.
3D printing (known in industry as additive manufacturing) is a key enabling technology of Industry 4.0 – a term used to signify the new era of industrial production, encompassing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and the Internet of Things.
‘Manufacturing a Healthy Future’ is an innovative programme that recognises that teachers are key influencers of the next generation but sometimes lack access to information and technology around the newest areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and manufacturing.
I-Form and Stryker are also collaborating on the EIT Manufacturing funded ‘Discover Manufacturing’ programme for second-level schools across the island of Ireland. This project is providing 3D printing training for teachers and engaging students in a Design Thinking challenge to improve health or wellbeing.
The winners of the all-Ireland ‘Discover Manufacturing’ health challenge have been named as Loreto College Mullingar, Cabra Community College, Campbell College, and Sperrin Integrated College. This project reached 48 secondary school teachers and 1,000 second level students across the island of Ireland.
Connecting through teachers
Dr Triona Kennedy, senior research manager, Stryker, said: “At Stryker, our mission is to make healthcare better and that is only possible through people. Partnered with I-Form at University College Dublin, we are connecting through teachers with young people who will help make healthcare better in the future.
"Our team of engineers, scientists and designers at Stryker have been so impressed with each entry to the health challenges from both primary and secondary schools. The future for healthcare is in great hands.”
Prof Denis Dowling, director, I-Form, said: “We were delighted to see so many young people involved in these innovative EIT Manufacturing programmes, engaging 1,750 pupils across the island of Ireland, and 2,500 in total across Europe.
"An imaginative, creative approach to problem-solving is a key skill, which is highly sought after by industry and will be a critical factor in enhancing Europe’s manufacturing competitiveness, in the decades ahead. As the manufacturing sector evolves, we hope to inspire young people to prepare now for the jobs of the future, and also to provide key support to teachers, who are crucial influencers of students.”