Aurora Telecom hosts community event for local Dublin students to promote science & technology
The designs of several Dublin students have made their way onto the street and side roads of the capital as part of a local initiative to promote science and technology.
Street “cabinets” that host telecoms equipment in locations across Dublin City - including on North Richmond Street and Synge Street – were painted last week in the colourful and creative winning prints of local students.
Aurora Telecom, a division of Gas Networks Ireland and one of Ireland’s leading backhaul dark fibre providers, celebrated National STEAM Day by engaging with five schools on a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) themed art project. These included O'Connell CBS, Drumcondra NS, Scoil Sancta Maria, Our Lady of Lourdes (Inchicore), and Presentation Primary School, Halston St.
Students showcased their understanding of STEAM through artwork, with selected designs now featured on Aurora Telecom’s cabinets in locations across Dublin city, including on North Richmond Street and Synge Street. These cabinets support the operation of Aurora Telecom’s dark fibre network, which enables high capacity telecommunications.
The initiative culminated in a community engagement event earlier this month at Gas Networks Ireland’s Network Services Centre in Finglas, Dublin, where students from five local primary schools were honoured for their creative submissions on the theme “What STEAM Means to Me.”
At the event, each student received a framed copy of their artwork, an e-kindle and a ‘Let's Experiment Science Kit’ for their school. Gas Networks Ireland’s Sustainability Manager, Anne Moore, spoke about the importance of STEAM education in fostering innovation and sustainability, saying: “It’s really important that we encourage students to study STEAM subjects in school, given the dependence and focus on technology in our daily lives.”
The initiative encouraged youth creativity and created eye catching designs for each telecom cabinet, highlighting Aurora Telecom’s commitment to supporting education and enhancing community development.
Aurora Telecom’s General Manager Sean O’Donnell praised the schools, saying: “We were very impressed by the creativity of the artwork and are delighted to present each student with their award today. Their artwork not only educates but inspires future generations on what STEAM means to them”.
Gas Networks Ireland was appointed as one of 20 SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) champions – developed by the United Nations - by the Department of the Environment and Climate in June 2024. This recognition underscores the organisation’s commitment to sustainability and its efforts in advancing and promoting the UN’s SDGs.
Gas Networks Ireland is the first energy utility to be chosen as an SDG champion. This significant honour reflects the organisation’s long-standing support for all 17 goals and its alignment with six specific SDGs most relevant to its activities.