Taoiseach marks milestone in Wicklow school as one million students avail of global science programme

Taoiseach Simon Harris at Temple Carrig School.

Taoiseach Simon Harris visited Temple Carrig secondary school in his hometown of Greystones, on Monday, September 9, to mark a special moment as one million students have now availed of a programme in biotechnology education spearheaded by US firm Amgen Biotech.

The Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) is a global initiative dedicated to advancing biotechnology education and the Greystones school is one of the leading schools involved in the programme in Ireland.

Since its introduction in 2014, ABE has empowered over 23,700 students and trained more than 215 science teachers across 175 secondary schools in Ireland. Globally, the programme has now reached over one million students across 16 countries.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “For 10 years, students right across the country have been introduced to the excitement of scientific discovery thanks to this excellent initiative.

“The importance of this experience to students cannot be understated, with many students getting their first taste of biotech from the Amgen Biotech Experience,” he continued.

“I am delighted to be joined with Amgen CEO Bob Bradway and Chair of the Amgen Foundation Emily Razaqi here in Wicklow today. Their dedicated and generosity has enriched the scientific experience for thousands of our students and I want to pay tribute to them for that,” he added.

Addressing students, Mr Bradway encouraged them to seize the opportunity.

“Remember, every great scientist started somewhere – often in a school just like this one, with a teacher just like your own Dr Cathcart and with a curiosity about how things work,” he said.

Through ABE, students in Ireland and across the globe are gaining hands-on experience with professional-grade scientific equipment.

The programme offers practical lessons in DNA analysis, gel electrophoresis and genetic engineering, helping students connect classroom theory to real-world scientific challenges.

As part of the celebration, four teachers in Ireland, including Dr Cathcart of Temple Carrig school, will share a bursary of €20,000 to help advance science education in their schools through the ABE program.

These include training for teachers ahead of the new Leaving Cert biology specification in 2025/2026 and the introduction of ABE for deaf and hard of hearing students.

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