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The social aspects of nature of science (NOS) have become more eminent but entrepreneurial perspectives of NOS continue to be neglected. Entrepreneurship is relevant to NOS and science education due to its role in scientific enterprises and its importance as a 21st-century skill required in all subjects, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Due to the impact of initial teacher education (ITE) and the science curriculum on Initial Science Teachers' (ISTs) understanding, the paper aims to explore the impact of including entrepreneurship in NOS with ISTs.

The qualitative study investigated the changes in three ISTs by examining their understanding of entrepreneurship within NOS and their perspectives on the inclusion of entrepreneurship in the science curriculum following an intervention. The results were analysed through thematic and network analysis (NA).

The results indicated that following an intervention, ISTs developed a more holistic understanding of entrepreneurship in NOS and could see the benefits and rationale for including entrepreneurship in the science curriculum. However, certain concerns remained.

Although entrepreneurship may contribute to NOS by promoting scientific development, enhancing interest in science and developing a holistic understanding of science, a thorough review of the relevant research literature suggests that studies investigating entrepreneurship in NOS are rare. The current paper fills this gap by exploring Irish ISTs' perspectives on positing entrepreneurship in NOS. The study suggests conducting further research on the integration of entrepreneurship in the science curriculum and its impact on ITE.

The purpose of this paper is to review and generate themes evident in research on primary and post-primary (secondary) school leadership in the Republic of Ireland (Ireland) from 2008 to 2018.

This paper follows the steps of a systematic review and thematic synthesis.

Following the review, six themes are identified and described, summarising the most current school leadership research in Ireland.

Potential future directions of research are identified.

No review of research on school leadership in Ireland is currently available and this is timely given the policy context’s recent focus on school leadership. The steps taken to conduct the review are clearly outlined.

This paper aims to explore why a country with significant under-investment in water infrastructure has not successfully imposed domestic water charges. Drawing on an economization lens, it examines how an economy emerged in the imposition of water charges but was subsequently hidden due to their politically motivated suspension.

Drawing on documentary evidence, a theoretically informed examination of the “economization” process is set out. This examination recognizes the central role sustainability plays in water management but illustrates how sustainability must be integrated with environmental, social, economic, cultural and political factors.

The findings set out the challenges experienced by a state-owned water company as they attempt to manage domestic water charges. The paper reveals that while the suspension of water charges has hidden the “economy” within government subvention, the economic and sustainable imperative to invest in and pay for water remains, but is enveloped within a political “hot potato” bringing about a quasi-political/quasi-economic landscape.

The findings demonstrate how the effective and sustainable management of domestic water supply requires collaboration between multiple participants, including the government, the European Union, private citizens and the water protest movement.

While highlighting the challenges faced by a country that has seriously under-invested in its water resources, the paper reflects the societal consequences of charging individuals for water, raising important questions about what water actually is – a right, a product or a political object.

Showing how an economy around domestic water supply in Ireland was revealed, but subsequently hidden in “the political”, the paper illustrates how sustainability is as much about economics and politics as it is about ecological balance and natural resources.

Patients with extended hospital admissions had no recreation facilities in the ward. They were often confined to spaces around their beds, using the ward corridor for rehabilitation. The purpose of this paper is to outline a quality improvement (QI) intervention-provision of a recreational space for long-stay patients.

An exploratory quantitative pre-, post-test design was utilised, and executed in three phases: patients, visitors and staff survey to explore recreation and comfort needs and preferences; store room refurbishment; and patient, visitor and staff satisfaction with the recreation room.

Overall, 77 questionnaires were completed (n=49 staff; n=28 patient/visitor). Almost two-thirds (64.7 per cent; n=11) of patients had a stay greater than six weeks. Insufficient private space and concerns about disturbing other patients were identified as barriers to taking part in activities. Consequently, a store room was refurbished as a recreation room (9.0 m × 6.0 m) and furnished in three distinct areas. Following refurbishment, over 90 per cent (n=24) of respondents agreed that there was a suitable space where patients could “go and chat” and spend time with family and visitors or speak to the healthcare team.

The physical environment in acute hospitals is seldom prioritised. Needs-based QI projects can improve patient hospital experiences.

This case study highlights how nursing staff can be informed by patients’ and families’ needs and preferences, and initiate QI projects that improve patient hospital experiences.

There exist many forms of discrimination. Different societies have developed varying approaches to the problem but most have evolved some legal prohibition. Of course there are many other ways in which the problem of discrimination can be tackled and this article will touch on some of those. However here the principal concern is with the law both as a tool for redressing disadvantage and as a social signal of the seriousness with which inequality is viewed.