Trinity College Dublin has announced the first five student recipients of Three Ireland Connect to STEM Scholarships for Women at an evening ceremony on Monday, December 5.
The five awardees:
- Emily Profir, Computer Science, Linguistics and Spanish (formerly St Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda Co. Louth);
- Neasa Nic Corcráin, Environmental Science and Engineering (formerly Loreto Convent Secondary School, Co Wexford);
- Emma Burgess, Chemical Sciences (formerly Wesley College, Dublin);
- Manpreet Kaur, Chemical Sciences (formerly Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, Co Wicklow);
- Claire McCooey, Computer Sciences (formerly St Joseph’s Grammar School, Donaghmore, Tyrone, Northern Ireland).
The five, pictured, are the first recipients of a total of 25 Three Ireland Connect to STEM scholarships for women to be awarded at Trinity over the next five years.
Administered by the Faculty of STEM and Trinity Access and worth €20,000 each over a four-year undergraduate degree programme, the scholarship scheme aims to attract women from Ireland to study STEM subjects at Trinity.
By working in partnership with Three Ireland, we can create a more diverse student population studying STEM undergraduate degree programmes and create the conditions for greater innovation and diversity in the workplace.
Applications were invited from first year students on selected courses in 2022/3 and recipients were chosen on the basis of a written application.
The successful students will also receive mentoring and other supports from Three Ireland.
L-R: Neasa Nic Corcráin, Emily Profir, Prof Sylvia Draper, dean of STEM, Trinity College Dublin, Elaine Carey, chief commercial officer, Three Ireland and Three UK, Dr Linda Doyle, provost, Trinity College Dublin, Emma Burgess, Claire McCooey and Manpreet Kaur.
Three Ireland is also funding two Trinity Access Teacher Fellowships for three years, designed to encourage the study of higher-level mathematics in schools by supporting the Access Maths initiative. The first Three Ireland Teacher Fellow, Eleanor Byrne from Dublin’s Firhouse Community College, has started work on the project.
Dr Linda Doyle, provost, Trinity College Dublin, said: “I want to warmly congratulate the five recipients of the “Connect to STEM” scholarships and wish them every success in their studies. As an engineering graduate myself, I know how hugely rewarding it is to engage with STEM subjects.
'Encourage more diverse participation in STEM'
“I also want to thank Three Ireland; this is a fantastic initiative to encourage more diverse participation in STEM.
“In order to understand and challenge power in today’s world, an understanding of STEM is vital. And it is hugely important that we have many women studying and working in this sphere.”
Elaine Carey, chief commercial officer, Three Ireland and Three UK said: “As a large employer in the STEM sector, at Three we know we have an important role to play in ensuring the talent pool is as diverse as possible.
"Our partnership with Trinity is supporting these efforts and I am delighted that the first five very-worthy scholars have been chosen. I would like to wish them every success in their studies over the next four years and I look forward to continuing our partnership with Trinity and future scholars as well as the teachers appointed as part of Three’s Trinity Access Teacher Fellowships.”