AMBER

CAPERS – Children And Parents Enjoying Reading and Science, is an initiative run by AMBER, the Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, Fighting Words, and Dublin City Libraries. CAPERS aims to foster positive dispositions to reading, creative writing and science whilst strengthening educational links between scientists, school communities and local libraries.

Led by AMBER, CAPERS enjoyed support from wonderful partners in Fighting Words (Nóra Nic Con Ultaigh, Pierina Campbell & ), Dublin City Library-Pearse Street (Eimear Hegarty), (Emma Farragher) and (Becky Long). Inspired by the Smalltalk stories, students of 5th class in Scoil Chaitríona Baggot Street created ‘Science World’, a special place readers can enter through stories, drawings, AI- images, comic strips, handmade props and Braille. The Five Kingdoms of Science World reflect the inclusive spirit of this class, where diversity and creativity are celebrated.

The inaugural Story Share Day was held in the Fitzgerald Library, on Wednesday 11th June where students of 5th class Scoil Chaitríona, Baggot St shared stories from ‘Science World’ which was created in partnership with AMBER &

Great contribution by AMBER Principal Investigator Kevin Ryan in .ie piece on University Research contributing to solving societal challenges.

Great contribution by AMBER Principal Investigator Kevin Ryan of University of Limerick in today’s Irish Universities Association piece on University Research contributing to solving societal challenges. Prof Ryan’s work focuses on energy storage solutions in batteries.

‘Ireland’s energy future is at risk. With heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels, dwindling domestic gas production, and increasing geopolitical instability, we face growing energy insecurity.

But university research is powering solutions. From battery storage to hydrogen fuels, Irish researchers are delivering real-world breakthroughs that reduce our dependence on foreign energy and unlock a clean, secure, resilient future.’

See how University Research is developing clean energy: https://www.iua.ie/betterireland/energy/

An All Island Pitch Tar Drop shared learning day took place in AMBER, Trinity College Dublin on 27th March 2025 hosted by the School of Physics, and AMBER. Over 100 secondary school students who participated in the All Island Pitch Tar Drop Experiment attended the event showcasing scientific posters demonstrating the observations and outcomes of their own pitch tar experiments in the schools. The day included talks from: Professor Louise Bradley, Chair of Physics 300 and scientific experiment displays and interactions. Coordinated by AMBER’s Education and Public Engagement Manager

Images Credit: Kseniia Mamaeva