Almost 3,000 female students have gathered for the 10th annual I Wish Showcase which is held to inspire girls to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
40 leading companies from the pharmaceutical, technology, and engineering sectors took part in the event at Dublin's RDS which includes interactive exhibitions and talks from guest speakers.
Former President of Ireland and current chair of The Elders Mary Robinson addressed students on climate justice and the challenges in achieving gender equality globally.
"I am delighted to join I Wish again this year, marking their 10th anniversary," Mrs Robinson said.
"It's an honour to be part of an event that ignites the spark of possibility in the hearts of young women."
"As a staunch supporter of 'girl power’, I witness its transformative impact every day through my work," she added.
Over the past decade, I Wish has engaged with over 60,000 students, hosted close to 1,000 speakers, and partnered with over 50 industry leaders.
In a recent I Wish survey, 51% of female students said a barrier to STEM was a lack of female role models while 66% cited poor gender equality in STEM careers.
"In our annual survey, time and time again girls tell us that they want more information about STEM and report that access to female role models positively influences them," said I Wish co-founder Caroline O'Driscoll
"At our Showcase, over 3,000 teenage girls get the opportunity to listen to the lived journeys of some amazing trailblazers," Ms O'Driscoll said.
