A call has been issued for applications to the STEPS Young Engineers Award.

Now in its second year, the award encourages third- and fourth-class pupils and their teachers to explore the world of engineering by developing an engineering project that would help to improve their local community.

Engineers, whether students, graduates, professionals or retirees, are encouraged to assist with the STEPS Young Engineers Award by becoming a STEPS Volunteer Engineer. Volunteers will be linked to a school in their locality to help students with their projects and to showcase the role of engineers in their community through engagement in the classroom.

The total time requirement for STEPS Volunteer Engineers is just four hours - two hours at the workshop and two hours in the classroom during 25 – 29 November - plus travel time to the workshop and local school.

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Engineers Ireland's STEPS team has urged engineering professionals and third-level engineering students across the country to volunteer for the scheme.

Caroline Spillane, Director General of Engineers Ireland, commented: "In Engineers Ireland, we recognise our future engineering innovators who aspire to solve global issues may not even be in the engineering field yet - they may be just starting out their education journey in our primary schools.

"Through participation in the STEPS Young Engineers Award it is our hope that young girls and boys will work alongside our fantastic volunteer engineers to innovate, create and explore together to engineer real world solutions for their local community and society. Thanks to Bentley Systems' support, we will also have a series of fantastic prizes for each winning school team," Ms Spillane concluded.

The competition is funded under Science Foundation Ireland's Discover Programme Call and is supported by the Department of Education and industry leaders Arup, ESB, Intel and TII.

For further information, visit www.steps.ie.

(CM/JG)