AMBASSADOR'S OUTREACH  

Ambassador Foley Helps Irish Students Reach Into Infinity: Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey, Co. Dublin: May 9, 2007. 

Students demonstrate the Infinity Project to Ambassador Foley at Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey.

 

Infinity Project is a program that was originally developed by Texas Instruments and put in the Texas school system to interest students in studying mathematics, engineering and applied sciences.  Brought to Ireland by Michael Tully from Dublin Institute of Technology’s School of Electronics and Communications Engineering, the Infinity Project is starting to gain a foothold in second level schools across Ireland.  Ambassador Thomas C. Foley visited one the schools using the Infinity Project, Loreto Abbey Secondary School in Dalkey for a demonstration of the program. 

Ambassador Foley addresses students at the demonstration of the Infinity Project.  Also included is the photograph is Michael Tully, Dublin Institute of Technology's School of Electronics and Communications Engineering.

 

Students from the all-girls school showed the Ambassador how they had developed computer programs using applied mathematics.  One of the projects tracked the Ambassador’s movements as he entered the classroom and projected his movements on to a big screen.  Another of the students showed the Ambassador how pictures can be encrypted and transmitted inside of other pictures.  At a third project the Ambassador spoke into a microphone and his voice was translated into sound wave images on the computer screen.  After the Ambassador viewed all of the projects he presented the students with certificates of completion.

 

Students demonstrate the Infinity Project to Ambassador Foley at Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey.

 

Teachers involved with the Infinity Project have reported a dramatic improvement among their students in interest in pursuing higher levels of study in mathematics, chemistry and physics.  As Ireland’s economy has boomed there is an increasing need for engineers and experts in information technology.  The Infinity Project is helping to inspire secondary students to fill that ever-widening gap.