MINISTER for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has announced that 19 primary schools in Donegal have received a Research Ireland Curious Minds Award for 2026.
Funded by Research Ireland, the Curious Minds Awards recognise schools that embrace hands-on, inquiry-based approaches to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The programme supports educators and students at every stage of their STEM learning journey, from schools taking their first steps in STEM engagement to those embedding STEM across the entire school community.
Across Donegal, students have been encouraged to explore STEM through practical investigations and real-world challenges. Activities undertaken through the programme include biodiversity studies, coding and programming projects, experiments exploring forces and materials, design-and-make challenges, and investigations that encourage students to test ideas, ask questions and develop problem-solving skills.
Announcing the awards, Minister Lawless said: “I am delighted to announce that 337 schools across the country have won Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards this year. What makes these awards so special is their focus not just on what children learn, but on how they learn. Through Curious Minds, schools across Ireland are helping young people to ask questions, explore ideas, and develop the confidence to experiment and problem-solve. I want to thank the teachers and school leaders whose passion and dedication are inspiring the next generation to engage with STEM in creative and meaningful ways. Their commitment is helping to foster a lifelong curiosity in our young people. Congratulations to every school recognised this year on this wonderful achievement.”
Commenting on the awards, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said:“The Curious Minds Awards showcase the enthusiasm and creativity of school communities across Ireland. The programme is built on a simple but powerful belief – that every child is born curious and every teacher can nurture that curiosity into a lifelong love of science, technology, engineering and maths. By supporting teachers and embedding these curiosity-centred approaches in everyday learning, the programme is making a real difference in helping to develop skills that will benefit students both now and into the future.”
To mark the announcement, hundreds of classrooms across Ireland joined a special online Curious Minds Awards ceremony hosted by television presenters Gráinne Bleasdale and Phil Smyth to celebrate this year’s award recipients.
Schools participating in the Curious Minds Awards initiative apply for one of three award tiers: Silver Award: for schools beginning their STEM journey, involving a minimum of two classes.
Gold Award: for schools further along their STEM journey, involving at least half of the classes in the school.
Platinum Award: for schools that have already achieved the Gold Award and wish to further integrate STEM into their school culture.
For more information about the Research Ireland Curious Minds programme, the Awards, CPD and inquiry-based resources, please visit www.researchireland.ie/curious-minds/ or contact the team at [email protected].
This year, 19 Donegal schools received a Gold Award, and 1 received a Platinum Award.