Jane Shimizu
Profile
Write an emailJane is a primary school teacher with a particular interest in science and all STEM subjects and teaches at a large, urban, junior primary school where the students range in ages from 4 to 8 years of age. She has been involved with Galway Science and Technology Festival and with Galway Education Centre for many years where she leads courses in continuing professional development with current and trainee primary teachers and also with primary school students.
In addition, Jane has facilitated her school's involvement in the Curious Minds/Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards of excellence every year since its beginning in 2004, winning Gold or Platinum awards each year.
She has been a recipient of the Institute of Physics "Teacher of Primary Science" award and the Galway Science and Technology "Science Person of the Year" award for work in science education.
She is delighted to be able to share her enthusiasm for STEM with colleagues from all over Europe through Science on Stage.
More about Jane Shimizu
What does it mean to you to be a teacher?
I am very privileged to be a teacher and an active participant in the voyage of discovery in which my students are engaged. In our learning it is the focus on skills rather than on content and the opening of minds and hearts to the world around us that helps me and my students feel the wonder and excitement that only education can bring.
Describe Science on Stage in three words:
Collaboration, wonder, excitement
How did you get involved with Science on Stage?
A number of years ago I attended a wonderful workshop on building rocket (projectile) launchers, given by members of Science on Stage Ireland. I made, and then have used these launchers with my students every year since. Our interest in space has grown each year and in 2019 I brought a project on "Space" to the Science on Stage festival in Cascais. I returned with a joint project with a teacher from Northern Ireland (UK) in 2022 and am excitedly looking forward to attending the next festival in Turku 2024 with a joint project on "Looking After Our Oceans" with a teacher from France.
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