Course Descriptions Secondary

Course Schedule

New for Summer 2025! Summer camps for secondary level!

• Applications open Wednesday 7th May and close Monday 12th May
• You can apply from 7th May via: University of Galway - Youth Academy
• Cost €140 (scholarship information Dates & Fees)
• For queries, please contact: youthacademy@universityofgalway.ie

Course Descriptions 

FutureFrontiers STEM Summer Academy (July 7-11)

Dive into marine science, build the future with engineering and coding, and explore the wonders of 3D bioprinting and earth science—all in one epic summer experience! At FutureFrontiers STEM Summer Academy, curious minds will get hands-on with real-world science, team up on exciting challenges, and discover how STEM is shaping tomorrow. Fun, friends, and future-ready skills await—are you in? 

Whether you're into exploring the ocean, solving real-world problems, or just love figuring out how things work, this camp is made for you. With inspiring instructors, exciting experiments, and the chance to explore cutting-edge topics, FutureFrontiers will spark ideas, boost your confidence, and help you discover new passions with new friends. 

You’ll learn skills that today’s scientists, engineers and programmers use every day, and you'll get to try them out in a fun, supportive environment. So, if you're curious, creative, and ready to take on the world—FutureFrontiers is where your journey begins. 

You will: 

• Discover fossils in the buildings around us and virtually visit the Jurassic era! 
• Detect microplastics under the microscope and explore our ocean currents 
• Dive into computer games programming with Python  
• Design a 3D printed device and print ‘organs’ like a biomedical scientist 
• Deploy engineering solutions to harness the power of the ocean and protect our coast from destruction 
• Drop into the University of Galway’s Geology Musem and ‘Dead Zoo’ 

Rise Up! Creative Arts for Climate Justice (July 14–18) 

Become an agent of change for our world through arts and culture. 

This course will stimulate creative minds through engagement with social and climate justice activism and art.  Students will become familiar with major pieces of art and internationally impactful projects, while developing skills to become creatively engaged with issues they are passionate about.  

During this weeklong course, students will also experience and engage with specific Galway International Arts Festival events and artists that have a focus on ecology and sustainability.

Each day we will explore different regions of the world, different environmental issues, and different art forms (including film and immersive technologies, architecture and design, music, theatre and stand-up comedy, fashion, and visual art) and how they have been used in activism for climate justice.  

In each class, students will have the opportunity to put what they learn into practice, experimenting and testing different ways of responding to climate change, ending up with a unique portfolio of work.  

Our final class will involve a showcase of live performances, productions, and exhibitions of student projects.  

This course will appeal to anybody with an interest in social and climate justice and those who identify as artists or performers. We are all natural storytellers and all have the opportunity to be activists! 

‘Rise Up! Creative Arts for Climate Justice’ is a collaboration between Youth Academy and the PACESETTERS research project (https://pacesetters.eu/) and there is no academic requirement (standardised test, psychologist assessment) needed to apply to take part. Please note that consent for the photography of participants’ work produced during the course will be requested, for inclusion in the PACESETTERS research project and for Youth Academy promotional purposes.