Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Monday 17°CTuesday 17°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
EducationNews

Donegal students have the ‘key’ to avoiding door handles!

written by Rachel McLaughlin December 10, 2020
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

This year, after 56 years in familiar operation, sees the prestigious BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition go ‘Virtual’ for the first time ever.

Showcasing their innovative product to the virtual event this year will be three Transition Year Technology students from the Royal & Prior School, Raphoe. 

The Captain’s Hook Covid Key project was borne from the rise in Covid-19 cases in the Lifford Electoral Area at the start of the school year in September.

The students in question; Adam McCrabbe, Jamie Cole & Matthew Gibson, all from the locality, decided to develop a device that would help open classroom doors without direct contact via your hand. The idea being transmission levels of the virus are reduced and possibly eliminated as you will have your own Captain’s Hook Covid key to open doors and access all areas of the school building safely. 

The Captain’s Hook Covid Key

Matthew Gibson putting finishing touches to his Covid Key

Adam McCrabbe with a selection of Covid Key Designs

The Project name – Captain’s Hook –  originated as the boys have all displayed the ‘Captain/Leader’ type qualities that are necessary to help drive innovation and create change for the better, especially in this unfamiliar and unprecedented time in our school. The Hook element was the basis for the first prototype developed, as it was hooking onto the handle to open doors. 

The team has been busy mocking up suitable designs from various materials in the workshop; Acrylic, Aluminium and even 3D Printed models. A major part of the project is the research and analysis element. Here several staff members as well as a cohort of the student body have been tasked with trialing out the Covid Key – with all feedback welcome and helping to inform and guide the next iteration of the design. 

Mrs O’Brien testing the product

Mrs McCandless gaining entry, safely, to her classroom

Team member Jamie Cole says: “I am having a great time participating in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition with my friend’s. We’ve come so far with our idea and it’s great to see our hard work finally paying off. I’m really looking forward to pitching our product idea to see what people think of our idea and if they’d use it in an ordinary setting”. 

The team’s TY Technology Teacher, Mr Michael Healy adds: “This is a fantastic opportunity for these students to pitch their presentation skills and their innovative product to the judges and against competition from all schools from all four corners of Ireland. It takes a great deal of time and effort to make it this far in the actual event, so the team should be fully deserving of any and all plaudits that may come their way, with maybe a prize or category award not beyond the realms of possibility”. 

Tubular handles – no bother

A busy three weeks lie ahead for the Captain’s Hook Covid Key Team, with the event itself taking place on Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th January. This is where the team members will be interviewed by the illustrious BTYSTE judging panel, made up of past winners and University & Global Business experts, and given the opportunity to pitch their innovation product. 

Donegal students have the ‘key’ to avoiding door handles! was last modified: December 9th, 2020 by Rachel McLaughlin
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
BT Young Scientist & Technology ExhibitionCaptain’s Hook Covid KeyRaphoeRoyal & Prior SchoolTransition Year Technology
Rachel McLaughlin

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Fine weather to return next week as...

8 hours ago

Seamus Coleman pays respects to Diogo Jota...

9 hours ago

Glenswilly GAA hosting Clubhouse Beats teen disco...

10 hours ago

Ghost is Donegal’s dog in the 2025...

11 hours ago

€1,000 college fees hike a “suckerpunch” for...

11 hours ago

Charles Ward opens first 100% Redress Party...

14 hours ago

Falcarragh Summer Cup launch new memorial cup...

15 hours ago

Letterkenny drug-driver put off the road

15 hours ago

Alert: Windyhall road in Letterkenny to be...

16 hours ago

Pvt Sean Rooney’s inquest hears Defence Forces...

16 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.