Trinity researchers engage students with sustainable aviation initiatives at Dublin Newton Room

Trinity researchers engage students with sustainable aviation initiatives at Dublin Newton Room

Posted on: 07 May 2026

Researchers at Trinity this week joined partners Boeing and Explorium to open the Boeing-sponsored mobile Newton Room at the Explorium science centre. Developed and administered by non-profit FIRST Scandinavia, the mobile Newton Room is an aviation-themed classroom offering three weeks of hands-on workshops for local students.

Over the coming weeks, with support from Trinity researchers, students will engage with flight simulators and mission-planning activities designed to spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

"Trinity has identified that community education and public engagement in STEM topics is urgently needed for global efforts underpinning environmental sustainability," said Professor Stephen Dooley, from Trinity's School of Physics, and Director of the Trinity College Sustainable Aviation Fuel Research Facility.

"At Trinity we are focused on the Net-Zero transition and particularly in making aviation sustainable through our research and training of learners. Thus, we are excited to support the Newton Room project as it improves the awareness of early learners to sustainability challenges and solutions that are informed by leading edge research."

Prof. Stephen Dooley, left, speaks at the launch of the Dublin Newton Room. Image: Explorium.

Jeremy Quin, president, Boeing Ireland, added: "Boeing is proud to build upon our long-standing partnership with Trinity, inspiring the next generation of Irish engineers and scientists, and contributing to the national conversation on sustainable aviation."

"With projected demand for 660,000 new pilots and 710,000 maintenance technicians over the next 20 years, the mobile Newton Room is a practical introduction to the possibilities in aerospace."

In 2025, the Newton Room programme engaged more than 21,000 students worldwide. Shipped from its previous visit in Oslo, Norway, the classroom brings immersive learning experiences that connect young people with real-world applications of STEM and highlight career pathways in aviation, technology and sustainability.

How the mobile Newton Room works:

• Mobile classroom equipped with flight simulators and hands-on modules
• Aviation-themed lessons challenge students to plan rescue missions, solve engineering problems and apply maths and science in real-world scenarios

Programmes are delivered with local partners and tailored to school groups and public audiences

• Tags:
• Environment
• Research
• Science
• Students
• Sustainability