Privacy

If you are under 18 years of age, please ask you parent or guardian to read this privacy policy before you take part in any interactive service found on this website or the other websites listed below.

This privacy statement was last updated: October 2012.

We are Discover Science & Engineering. DSE initiatives are managed by Science Foundation Ireland. Our offices can be found at Science Foundation Ireland, Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland and we are responsible for operating the following websites:

The website you have linked from is part of the Discover Science & Engineering National Integrated Awareness Programme that is managed by Science Foundation Ireland.

Background

This page sets out our policy with regard to the privacy of the users of our websites. By visiting one or more of our websites, you are agreeing to the terms of this privacy statement. If you are not happy with the terms of this privacy statement and do not wish your information to be recorded, you may wish to leave the relevant site(s). Each time you use our websites you will be bound by the then current privacy policy. You should read this policy each time to satisfy yourself you are happy with it.

Irish data protection commissioner

DSE initiatives are managed by Science Foundation Ireland on behalf of the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is registered as a Data Processor with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner with registration number 9072/A. Further information on your data privacy rights is available on the website of the Irish data protection commissioner (www.dataprivacy.ie).

Your right of access to personal information

You have the right to request a copy of the information held by us about you. If you wish to do so, please contact info[at]science[dot]ie. You will be required to make available proof of your identity. We may charge a fee for this which shall not exceed €6.35.

You may inform us of any changes or errors in your personal data, object to the use of your data, request us to block any specific users of your data or request us to delete your data by contacting us at info[at]science[dot]ie. In accordance with our obligations under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 we will, without charge, update or delete your personal data accordingly within forty (40) calendar days of receipt of your request.

What information do we collect?

We respect the rights of our users and, except for the following list, we do not collect personal information through our websites:

statistical information gathered automatically when you visit the website;
information provided voluntarily during registration;
information provided voluntarily in using the website, for example on Greenwave.ie the submission of a species sighting, including date of sighting, location of sighting and optional photograph and note; and
information provided voluntarily when making an enquiry, request, entering a competition or performing a similar activity through the website.

For general web browsing, certain information is recorded in the website log files, which may include:

the top level domain name from which you access the internet;
the IP address of the computer from which you access the website;
the date and time each computer accesses the website;
the pages accessed and the documents downloaded by each computer;
the type and version of the browsers being used to access the website;
the addresses of any third party webpages which refer visitors to our website;
keywords used in search engines and directories to find our website; or
keywords and phrases used to search our website.

What do we do with the log file information?

This information is used for statistical purposes only – including

to find out how many people are visiting our sites;
to identify what pages are accessed most frequently;
to help us improve the information we are supplying to our users; or
to make our site more user friendly.

We have an agent to whom this information is made available so that it can provide us with analysis and reporting services. This agent has provided written confirmation to us that it will comply with the relevant data protection obligations by keeping information secure and not using it for any purpose other than which it was provided. An archive of these website log files and associated analysis and reports are retained by us (for as long as legally permitted) as a way of measuring patterns of website traffic over the years and in order to facilitate future planning.

Children’s Safety

The safety of children using the Internet is very important to us. It is primarily the responsibility of parents and guardians to monitor their children’s usage of the Internet, though we will take reasonable steps not to compromise children’s rights and interests. We urge parents and guardians to instruct children never to give out their real names, addresses or phone numbers, without permission, when using the Internet. We recognise that there is a special obligation to protect personal information obtained from children. Visit the Department of Education & Skills / National Centre for Technology in Education website www.webwise.ie for more information on staying safe on the internet.

In order for children between the ages of twelve (12) and seventeen (17) to participate in interactive online activities that require registration, we may (and for children under twelve (12) we specifically will) require prior permission from a parent or guardian (opt-in). Where a child under twelve (12) seeks to register, we will request a parent or guardian email address for us to contact. In this case, we will email the parent/guardian and provide a link for them to accept or decline their child’s registration.

If the parent/guardian does not have an email address a copy of our permission form can be requested from the office at telephone number (01) 6073042. The form, once received, should be signed by the parent/guardian and returned to us either by fax (01) 6073237 or by mail to Discover Science & Engineering, Science Foundation Ireland, Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Cookies

A cookie is a block of data that is sent to and then stored on your PC. Some of our sites use cookies to keep track of the fact that you have signed in so you don’t have to continually enter your username and password. We also use cookies as a useful means of tracking your path through the site, and identifying repeat visits. We can also use them to help us identify and troubleshoot errors arising on the website.

Some browsers are automatically set to accept cookies. You may disable cookies or set your browser to alert you when cookies are being sent. However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access certain parts of our site. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you log on to our site.

If you do allow cookies to enhance your browsing experience, you can later delete them at any time if you so wish. There are many sources of information about Internet cookies and we would encourage you to learn more so that you can make an informed decision about accepting or rejecting them. Read more about the use of cookies on this website.

Storage of subscriber lists and personal information

Subscriber lists and any personal information submitted are kept on a server belonging to and administered by us, an agent of ours who provides website hosting services, and/or the email alert software. Our agent is registered with the Data Protection Commission and has provided written confirmation to us that it will comply with the relevant data protection obligations by keeping information secure and not using it for any purpose other than for which it was provided.

For backup purposes, copies of personal information and subscriber lists are stored on secure servers to which:

a limited number of our staff within the Systems Department have physical access;
a limited number of our staff within the Communications Department, Discover Science & Engineering and the Systems Department have access via the internal network Text communications to mobile phones;
our agents have remote access for the purposes of providing website development, maintenance or hosting services.

Disclosure of personal information

Registrants’ school details that are submitted through the website’s forms may be published on the website.

For instance, on the Greenwave website, following a bird spotting submission, users are presented with an up-to-date view of all the sightings relating to their chosen bird. This presents a map of Ireland indicating all the other sightings that have been made for this bird by other schools throughout Ireland. The date of the sighting alongside the school name is presented on this map – no personal names are provided.

In the case of website forms from which information is not to be published on the website, we will not disclose a user’s personal information to any other party, unless it is:

required to do so by law; or
necessary in order to complete the user’s request or answer the user’s query.

Security of your personal information

We take our security responsibilities very seriously and take all reasonable steps (both technical and organisational) to protect your personal details once they have been received by us. Staff who have access to personal information gathered from the websites are made aware of Data Protection responsibilities. Names of our staff members who have access to this information are available on request. Information that is no longer in use is retained on backup tape for no longer than one (1) year.

Security of information within our control

This site has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. Once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to ensure its security on our systems. However, due to the nature of the Internet, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or from our online products or services, and you do so at your own risk.

What else you should know about privacy

It is recommended that, where possible, you log out of your Internet session before you close your Internet browser. This will make it more difficult for others to access your personal information and correspondence specifically if you share a computer with someone else or are using a computer in a public place like a library or Internet cafe.

You agree that as an individual you, and in no way us, are responsible for the security of, and access to, your own computer. You agree that you are aware that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information over the Internet that this information can be collected and used by others. Ultimately, you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your usernames and passwords and any account information. Our websites may contain links to other websites, and you should be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices on other websites.

Privacy statements on third party websites

Where our, respective, website(s) provides links to third party websites, these links are provided for information purposes only and we are not responsible for the content, copyright or privacy policies of these websites.

Privacy policies applicable to particular sites

Information provided voluntarily through website forms
Some pages of DSE websites contain forms that -

allow you to register your personal and school details;
allow you to sign up for a newsletter;
allow you to submit information, for example a species sighting on Greenwave.ie;
allow you to submit digital content, for example Science Week event photos; or
allow you to enter competitions.

Depending on the particular form and its purpose, the type of information that you will be asked to submit may include relevant details such as your name, address, Department of Education roll number, school details and in some cases your mobile phone number.

Google Analytics

Our websites may use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics use “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyse how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and Internet usage.

Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. Read more about the use of cookies on this website.

eNewsletter

If you subscribe to an e-newsletter, your email address is automatically added to our subscriber database. We will only use your email address for sending you communications which you have specifically subscribed or requested. However, from time to time we may contact you to advise upon developments and new services. All e-newsletters include details of how you can unsubscribe.

Text communications to mobile phones

Your mobile phone number will only be made available to a third party agent that we have contracted to operate and provide text communication services. Such agent may not use this information for any other purpose. We will only use your mobile phone number for the purposes for which you provided it to us. You can unsubscribe from these mobile services at any time.

Competitions

We may make available competitions on our site(s) from time to time. Any details you provide when entering such competition will only be used for communicating with you and for no other purpose.

Contacts

Should you have any concerns about your privacy or any of the issues covered in this statement, please contact:

info[at]science[dot]ie

Discover Science & Engineering,
Science Foundation Ireland, Wilton Park House,
Wilton Place,
Dublin 2,
Ireland
Tel: +353 1 6073000.