Donegal was well represented at this week’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition at the RDS in Dublin.
Officially opened by President Michael D. Higgins, the exhibition hosted projects from some of the most innovative budding scientists across Ireland.
Colaiste Ailigh student Iarlaith Mac Fhionnghaile won the first prize in the Senior Individual Social & Behavioural Sciences Category, and also the prize for the Best Project “as Gaeilge”. His study looked at the effects four units of alcohol can have on motorists’ driving, using a driving simulator to gather his data.
The Geological Survey of Ireland award was presented to St Columba’s Comprehensive School Glenties students Edward Moss and Conor Mc Crossan. Edward and Conor’s project focused on coastal erosion in South West Donegal, spanning between 1951 and 2017.
The Biological and Ecological Junior Individual 3rd place award went to Chloe Ní Chiarain from Colaiste Ailigh for her project “Imscrudu a dheanamh ar an gcaoi a bhfuil amalais sheileach ceangailte le strus agus scrudu simpli amalais sheileach chun leibheal strus mhic leinn a thomais a fhorbairt.”
Also in the Biological and Ecological category, the Senior Group 3rd place award went to Magh Ene College students Aine Dillion, NIamh Creevy and Katie Curran for their project “A test of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis on a rocky sea shore in Bundoran.”
Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair students Molly Gallagher, Katie Boyle and Saoirse Chu also proudly represented Donegal with their project “Potaí Plandaí Féin-Toirchithe.”
Several projects analysed the growing use of social media usage amongst teenagers, with Maurice McGee, Colm O’Donnell, and Mikaela Greene from the Rosses Community School in Dungloe focusing in on the newly introduced Snapchat map, and Deele College student Saoirse Sheridan examining how the use of Instagram can affect young adults’ personality and psychology.
Other projects from Donegal schools who qualified include:
Magh Ene College
- “An investigation into the effect of different plant extracts on the action of amylase on starch digestion” (Biological and Ecological)
- “Improved electrochemical capacitor incorporating doped graphene and a liquefied gas electrolyte” (Technology)
- “An investigation into Biofeedback” (Social and Behavioural Sciences)
- “An investigation of Autumn foraging activity of four species of Irish bat” (Biological and Ecological)
- “An investigation into the effect of different strategies on success rate in penalty kicks” (Social and Behavioural Sciences)
Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair
- “An éifeacht éiceolaíochta ata ag daoine ar an Earagail – The ecological impact people have on Errigal Mountain (Biological and Ecological)
- “An Brú a Bhaineann le aistriú ón Bunscoil go dtí an Meánscoil” (Social and Behavioural Sciences)
Coláiste Ailigh
- “Staidear a dhéanamh ar an bhféidearthacht a bhaineann le péint bhóthair theirmeachóim mar tháscaire luath-rabhaidh ar Oighear dubh ar bhóithre na hÉireann” (Technology)
- “Fréamhshamhail díleáiteoir anaeróbach baile a thógáil chun áit úsáid bhreoslaí iontaise sa teach a ghlacadh (Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences)
- “App chun luas na gaoithe ar bharr chnoic a thomhais ón bun (Technology)
Donegal Gaelcholáiste Chineál Eoghain
- “How Safe are we on the Internet? A Case Study- Cé Chomh Sabháil atá an Idirlíon? An Cás Staideir” (Social and Behavioural Sciences)
