About STEM Kilkenny

STEM Kilkenny was founded by Calmast STEM Engagement Centre to inspire curiosity, spark an interest in science and foster a ‘science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for all’ ethos.

Having successfully run a huge range of STEM events for schools and the public in Kilkenny for many years, the first Kilkenny Science Festival was founded in 2020.

Calmast is Waterford Institute of Technology’s STEM Engagement Hub. It was established in 2002 to address issues in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) building on work of the South East Schools Science Initiative commenced in the 1990’s. The centre leverages the resources of WIT (in particular the staff and students and venues) and works in partnership with schools, industry and business, local authorities, public bodies and non-governmental organisations. Calmast has been funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) as the STEM Hub for the South East Region.

The core value is “STEM for all” and we work in a spirit of partnership in all things to engage as many as possible. Throughout 2021 over 20,000 people have attended Calmast coordinated events in the region and hundreds of thousands engaged with Maths Week Ireland.

The Centre directors are Dr Sheila Donegan and Eoin Gill.

Waterford Institute of Technology is a university-level institute located in the South-East of Ireland.