The RDS Foundation Science and Technology programme aims to support excellence in scientific endeavour and communication, to emphasise the importance of science and technology in economic and social development and to encourage young people to see science as provoking, challenging and fun.
Designed to explain how our body seeks and destroys invaders, the RDS organises a series of short immunology lectures for schools every year which is aimed specifically at those in Transition Year and above.
The RDS has established a fund to provide bursaries to educators to develop science demonstration lectures for primary and secondary school students.
Challenging the 12 to 19-year-old age group to understand and explain some facet of science, this annual Competition is an opportunity for students to develop their communication skills and incorporate scientific topics into fresh and exciting literary work.
This annual event involves a postgraduate finalist from each of the Republic's seven universities presenting their research in an easy to understand manner to a lay audience. This is a competition that will test both their communication skills and their ability to make their research accessible to all.
Each year the RDS organises a public lecture on the matter of immunology and how it pertains to people's health. The lecture is free of charge and aimed specifically at a general audience.
The RDS has been coordinating the selection of the Irish delegation for the London International Youth Science Forum since 1964. The Forum is an exciting annual event which brings together some 300 young students from more than 50 countries across the globe.
The RDS Science Live Demonstration Lecture series involves funding science communicators to develop high quality workshops that are aimed at those in primary and secondary school.
In celebration of Maths Week, the RDS organises an annual lecture designed to promote mathematics in schools and mathematics as a career choice.
The RDS Science Live for Teachers programme involves two annual workshops developed to provide teachers with an opportunity to hone their skills to help teach and demonstrate the science curriculum.
In 1899 the Society inaugurated a medal for scientific research of exceptional merit carried out in Ireland. It is now awarded biennially - alternating between a scientist based in Ireland and an Irish scientist based abroad. It remains to this day Ireland's premier science award.
