Tuesday 8 March 2016

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    Abbott volunteers from all around the country are rolling up their sleeves this week to inspire schoolchildren about the wonders of engineering. To coincide with Engineers Week, which runs until March 5, more than 30 volunteers from six different Abbott facilities are guiding students from their locality through exciting and diverse projects, that traverse the civil, mechanical and electrical fields of engineering. Engineers Week is a week-long programme of nationwide events with the aim of celebrating the world of engineering in Ireland. The aim is to create positive awareness and spark enthusiasm about the engineering profession to people of all ages, especially students, teachers and parents. The application of engineering in everyday life is a key feature of the programme. For example, volunteers from Abbott’s medical optics facility in Liffey Valley will work with more than 120 students from Divine Mercy Primary School in Balgaddy, Co Dublin, showing them how to build a bridge and move water uphill, while also demonstrating how lasers can be used to fix failing eyesight. Speaking about the partnership with Engineers Ireland, Pat McLoughlin, Abbott Ireland said: “At Abbott we advance leading-edge science and technologies that hold great potential for helping people live better lives. Every step of the work we do, from research and development to the manufacture of new products and technologies, depends on engineering excellence. "We believe we have a role to play in helping young people to discover the  wonders of engineering – and hopefully, inspire them to pursue careers in engineering and related STEM fields in the years to come.” More than 700 students, from primary and secondary cycles around the country, will be reached by more than 30 volunteers from six different Abbott facilities, including Abbott’s diabetes care facility in Donegal, Abbott’s diagnostics facilities in Longford and Sligo, Abbott’s medical optics facility in Dublin, Abbott’s nutritional facility in Cavan and Abbott’s vascular facility in Tipperary. This is the fourth year that Abbott has participated in Engineers Week, with more than 115 Abbott volunteers reaching 30 schools and 1,550 students since 2013. Participation is supported by Abbott's philanthropic foundation, the Abbott Fund. Engineering Week outreach is part of Abbott and the Abbott Fund's broader work to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, inventors and innovators. To date, we've engaged more than 10,000 students and families in Ireland through STEM education programmes.