Offaly man highlights STEM opportunity at Midlands’ first TEDx event

AN Offaly man used the stage of the Midlands’ first-ever TEDx event last week to highlight the importance of accessible STEM education in shaping the region’s future.

Ray Bell, Head of Information Systems with Offaly County Council, was among the speakers at TEDxAthlone at the Dean Crowe Theatre, where he spoke about strengthening collaboration between education, industry and local authorities to ensure young people in the Midlands are equipped for emerging technological opportunities.

Speaking alongside Ericsson’s Barbara Quinn, Bell referenced the significant growth in computer science provision across schools in the region and emphasised the importance of early exposure to technology in building confidence and long-term career pathways.

He argued that the Midlands is not simply responding to change, but actively shaping its own future through regional partnership and innovation.

The inaugural TEDxAthlone event drew a full house and brought together speakers from medicine, media, politics, sport and industry under the theme The Ripple Effect, exploring how ideas can create meaningful change across communities.

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Organiser Orla Thornton, who is also Director of Marketing & Communications at TUS Athlone, said the response to the event reflected strong regional appetite for ambitious thinking and collaboration.

“It reinforced the strength of collaboration already present across the Midlands and the ambition to continue shaping a confident, forward-looking future for the region,” she said.

Organisers have indicated that discussions are already underway about building on the success of the inaugural event.

For further information, visit @TEDxAthlone on Instagram.

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