Students at St Nicholas' Parochial School in Galway city will imagine, design, and create new medical devices, inspired from marine life.
The ‘Tiny Sea Life, Big Cures’ project will culminate in the creation of a large-scale mural, celebrating Galway, scientific achievements, conservation, and the role of the artist and scientist in our community. The mural will be located on the school building and be completed this summer.
CÚRAM, the Science Foundation Ireland research centre for medical devices at NUI Galway, and Galway Atlantaquaria have been engaging in virtual workshops with pupils of St Nicholas’ school, together with teaching artist Alison MacCormaic.
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An understanding of the role of marine life in human health is at the heart of the workshops. From Galway Atlantaquaria, pupils learn about marine life in Ireland and the importance of conservation. CÚRAM researchers teach the students about marine sources of biomaterials and how they can heal the body.
Inspired by the scientific material investigated from the aquarium and CÚRAM, Alison MacCormaic is teaching the students how to imagine, design, and create models for devices that may aid human health and recovery. In addition, guest Lecturer Enda O’Dowd will introduce the medical device design course he coordinates at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
Engaged and motivated
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“We designed the workshops to encourage maximum creative input from the fifth and sixth class students at St Nicholas’,” says Alison MacCormaic. “In the art section of the workshops, they draw for design, using their imaginations to think like medical device designers, and developing different ideas. Their drawing and design skills are used to imagine brand new products that have never been designed before - who knows where all this creativity might lead!”
Deirdre Grace,who teaches fifth and sixth class at St Nicholas’ said the project has been “a real learning experience for the students” who are “highly engaged and motivated to learn more about the topics”.
CÚRAM is focused on creating devices that help patients living with chronic illness and runs an active public engagement programme, 'Breaking Barriers', which aims to engage artists, filmmakers, teachers, and the general public in creating new ways of accessing scientific knowledge and research.
