SmartBay Ireland and GMIT announce a new Masters in Research Scholarship
SmartBay Ireland, in collaboration with GMIT is delighted to announce the call for applications for a new Masters in Research Scholarship programme. The research project, commencing in November 2020, aims to develop a suite of post-primary educational resources in the field of marine renewable energy.
The scholarship is a result of a partnership between SmartBay Ireland, GMIT, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scholarship is designed to fund and support a candidate in the Connemara Gaeltacht Region and to drive awareness around ocean literacy, marine renewable energy and sustainability through education in local schools. The successful candidate will receive funding support to the value of €44,500 over the duration of the 24-month project.
This project will focus on the preparation and delivery of resources at post-primary level, in both English and Irish, which will incorporate various aspects of the marine and renewable energy knowledge base. The research will include an analysis of current post-primary syllabi and specifications in order to identify aspects of the curriculum which could be enriched through collaboration with the national ocean energy programme.
John Breslin, SmartBay Ireland General Manager, said: “SmartBay Ireland is very proud and excited to launch the first-ever SmartBay Research Scholarship, in collaboration with GMIT, with the support of our funding partners. Our aim with SmartBay is to make a positive and lasting impact on the local community from an environmental, social and economic perspective. This scholarship is an excellent opportunity for the successful candidate, not only to advance in their career, but to be at the forefront of developing educational resources to make a positive and lasting impact on the post-primary curriculum. We are very excited for this project’s potential to build awareness and understanding of the enormous potential our offshore wind, wave and tidal energy resources can play in helping Ireland transition to a low carbon economy.”
Open until 16 September, this call is seeking a candidate with experience as a post-primary educator, preferably in the field of science, with demonstrable proficiency and fluency in the Irish language. A home address in the Connemara Gaeltacht Region is desirable. Above all, a candidate with evident enthusiasm and passion for education, citizen science initiatives and community development projects, with excellent communication skills, is required to get the most out of this opportunity.
Róisín Nash, lecturer at GMIT and SmartBay Research Scholarship Supervisor, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity which would suit an enthusiastic candidate with a passion for education, the marine and sustainability. At a time when research and management of essential marine resources are key features of a sustainable future, this is a unique project with lots of opportunities for the candidate to be creative and influential in incorporating marine and renewable energy into the classroom.”
To Apply for the SmartBay Ireland Research Scholarship:
Full details on the postgraduate research scholarship and application procedure are available on the Research Vacancies section on the GMIT website. All applications must be submitted to the GMIT Research Office. The application deadline date is Wednesday 16 September at 12 noon.
The SmartBay Ireland Postgraduate Research Scholarship is funded by the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
For further information, contact: Josephine Kelly, Community Liaison Officer, SmartBay Ireland