County Clare represented in STEM book which 'aims to spark future change'

The Royal Irish Academy is delighted to announce the publication of 'Irish STEM Lives', with entries on a famed Clare native. 

The latest in the 'Dictionary of Irish Biography’s' (DIB) ongoing 'Lives' series, the book publication will be followed by a launch event, held at The Royal Irish Academy on October 8.

Edited by Turlough O' Riordan and Jane Grimson, 'Irish STEM Lives' retraces the extraordinary work and contributions of natural philosophers, mathematicians, engineers, particle physicists, code breakers and many more, through a selection of forty-six pioneers from the DIB.

The book will take the reader on a journey across artificial intelligence, climate change, food safety, transport and communication, touching all the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) that are integral to modern society.

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The publication includes an entry on John Philip Holland, from Liscannor, Co Clare, who invented the submarine. Working as a maths teacher around Ireland before emigrating to the USA, Mr Holland continued to teach as he experimented with his conception of a submarine. Something he had been developing since his time in native Ireland.

His Holland 1 submarine prototype emerged in 1878, though the expense of his ongoing refinement led the teacher to work as an engineer. The Holland IV, with a 6 person crew and attaining depths of 60 feet and speeds of 9 knots, was acquired by the US Navy and the USS Holland became the prototype for their submarine fleet. 

A notable theme of the book is the evolution of the pursuit of knowledge over the past four centuries, covering relevant breakthrough events in STEM history. Examples include the development of the ‘scientific method’ in the circle surrounding Robert Boyle and the large-scale particle physics experiments undertaken by John Stewart Bell and Anne Kernan at CERN.

Another major theme is the representation of diversity within STEM fields in Ireland. Women in STEM are often overlooked, relegated to the margins of textbooks despite their crucial contributions to scientific and technological advancements. 'Irish STEM Lives' brings their stories to the forefront; from Mary Ward to Anne Kernan, these women played an essential role in shaping the landscape of science and technology.

To honour their contributions and acknowledge their efforts, the only pictures included in the book are those of female STEM practitioners. This decision was made to challenge the conventional norms of STEM representation. The absence of male figures in the visual elements serves as a reminder that scientific progress is not an endeavour exclusive to men and that women have been, and continue to be, fundamental in driving innovation and discovery. 

Turlough O’ Riordan, digital editor with the 'Dictionary of Irish Biography', said: "The volume represents the rich diversity of achievements across Irish STEM history. The lives collected – across science, technology, engineering and mathematics – provide readers with both a fascinating variety of insights into those domains, alongside an understanding of the amazing women and men behind them."

Jane Grimson MRIA, said: "Ireland is rightly recognised globally for our many wonderful creative writers. However, what is much less well known is the vital contribution which many women and men, who were either born in Ireland or who worked here, have made to the advancement of STEM across a wide range of areas which are still important today. This volume records their achievements."

Ruth Hegarty, Managing Editor of Publications at the Royal Irish Academy said: "'Irish STEM Lives' is an important publication because, by looking at the past, it aims to spark future change. The portraits of women in the book are meant to inspire a new generation of young women to see themselves reflected in these roles and to understand that they, too, can be leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics."

'Irish STEM Lives' is available in bookshops and through the RIA Publishing House via www.ria.ie.