Our ‘day-job’ is to make clinical trials better. We love scientific method and processes, and we like discovering new ways of doing this when it comes to clinical trials. You would be surprised how impactful small changes can be in science. We love to challenge old concepts and develop new innovative ways to get our work done. We developed the START Competition simply because we love what we do, and we want to share that with everyone. We also know how clever and innovative Irish primary school children can be, and we greatly enjoy learning from what the children do each year.
Our team also lead various projects to help the public better understand healthcare and how science works. Check out some of these projects: https://www.meetthescientist.ie/ and https://www.thekidstrial.ie/
The START Competition has been supported since 2016 by the Health Research Board and we are proud to have received further funding from Reasearch Ireland in 2024. Our steering group includes two primary school principals and several primary school teachers, whose expertise helps shape our initiatives.
To date, Teachers and children have provided overwhelmingly positive feedback. The Competition is seen not just as a science learning tool, but as a versatile resource that enhances the curriculum and builds transferable skills, making it a valuable addition to teaching strategies.
