Five UCC students awarded scholarships as part of Johnson and Johnson’s WiSTEM2D programme
Bursary Winnes Kathleen McCormack, Enniskeane, Grace McSweeney, Ovens, Alice Noel, Bishopstown, Amy Dolan, Glanmire, Michelle Condon, Mitchelstown, Adina Zagoneanu, Bishopstown, Niamh Hurley, Frankfield and Caoimhe O’Brien, Bruff Limerick. Picture: Darragh Kane.
Five female students were presented with bursaries by global healthcare company Johnson and Johnson (J&J) as part of its WiSTEM2D Award Programme at a ceremony in University College Cork (UCC) on Tuesday, 15th January.
The acronym WiSTEM2D refers to Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design, and is part of J&J’s commitment to developing and implementing high-impact strategies to support female students undertaking STEM2D degree courses at UCC and in universities around the world. This is the healthcare company’s first year partnering with the University. UCC is one of 13 universities worldwide to participate in the programme, the programme in its third year at the University of Limerick (UL).
The five winning students are:
- Amy Dolan, Business Information Systems, from Glanmire, Co. Cork.
- Kathleen McCormack, Mathematical Sciences, from Enniskeane, Co. Cork.
- Grace McSweeney, Financial Maths, from Ovens, Co. Cork.
- Alice Noel, Financial Maths, from Bishopstown, Cork.
- Caoimhe O’Brien, Process and Chemical Engineering, from Bruff, Co. Limerick.
Five female students were presented with bursaries by global healthcare company Johnson and Johnson (J&J) as part of its WiSTEM2D Award Programme at a ceremony in University College Cork (UCC) today. The students were selected for the programme following a rigorous application process and one-to-one interviews. They will shortly be assigned a J&J female role model who will support and mentor them as well as affording them the opportunity to visit J&J sites across the country and develop their STEM networks in the industry. Picture: Darragh Kane.
The three runner-up students are:
- Michelle Condon, Business Information Systems, from Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.
- Niamh Hurley, Architecture, from Douglas, Cork.
- Adina Zagoneanu, Process and Chemical Engineering, Model Farm Rd., Cork.
The students were selected for the programme following a rigorous application process and one-to-one interviews. They will shortly be assigned a J&J female role model who will support and mentor them as well as affording them the opportunity to visit J&J sites across the country and develop their STEM networks in the industry.
Award Winners Adina Zago, Bishopstown, Michelle Condon, Mitchelstown and Niamh Hurley, Frankfield. Picture: Darragh Kane
As the programme is in the middle of first year at University College Cork, it is evident that there is still a vital need to support young women pursuing STEM2D careers. Recent research conducted amongst UL students revealed that 29% of STEM undergraduates do not know what jobs to apply for, and further, of the 56% of students that have never visited an industry facility, 66% were female.
The WiSTEM2D programme is unique in terms of offering young women studying STEM2D courses the opportunity to engage with women working in those careers. First-hand experience of site tours, mentoring, project and career workshops enable students to visualise exactly what it is like to have a career in STEM.
Liz Dooley, Director of Operations at Janssen the pharmaceutical company of J&J, said, “At J&J, we recognise that women are greatly under-represented in the STEM workforce here in Ireland. The mentoring element of the programme is designed to combat potential isolation among female students and to provide support for them as they continue their third level studies. As we look to building the workforce of the future, we are committed to supporting women in STEM, allowing us to develop the talent pipeline by nurturing and mentoring our future female STEM leaders.”
Professor Paul Ross, Head of College at the department of Science, Engineering and Food Science said, “A key aim of the WiSTEM2D programme is to inspire young women to bring diversity of ideas and opinions to typically male-dominated STEM careers. We recognise that STEM is traditionally a masculine environment, therefore collaborations between industry and third level institutions are critically important in order to drive change, expanding the reach and quality of STEM education in Ireland. We look forward to a continued partnership with J&J to help mentor, support and encourage young women in STEM education.”
Speaking on behalf of WiSTEM2D students, Alice Noel said, “Being part of this programme will be an incredible experience for me and all of the students. One of the most positive aspects of the collaboration will be the opportunity to develop connections within our peer network where we can share our experiences and support each other which will be incredibly positive and rewarding.”
Also in attendance were the award winners’ family members, J&J mentors and UCC academic STEM staff.
