Projects from bright Donegal students gathered eight awards from this week’s BT Young Scientist Awards.
In the Special Awards section, Caolan Mc Taggart, Daithi Mac Diarmaida and Matthew Farrell from Coláiste Ailigh won the An Fóram Uisce/Water Award for their project “Staidéar ar éifeacht feirmeoireacha, tithíochta agus tionsclaíochta ar bhithéagsúlacht inbheartabrach abhainn Leanainn”.
Donegal students and their projects also nabbed four Category Awards.
The 1st Senior Group Prize in the Biological and Ecological category was won by Abbey Vocational School’s Jane Faulkner and Robyn Given, and their project studying “Which is the most ‘essential’ essential oil at preventing the growth of fungal mould on citrus fruits”.
Alistair Cian from Coláiste Cholmcille won the 1st Junior Individual prize in the Social and Behavioral Sciences category for their project called “The gut microbiome, what do YOU know?#8221;.
In the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences category the 3rd Junior Group prize went to Sienna Devine from Coláiste Ailigh for their project titled “Imscrúdú ar éifeachtúlacht Olann gharbh mar inslitheoir tí ailtéarnach.”
Ciara McDermott and Siobhán O’Brien from Loreto Secondary also won in the same category, claiming the 3rd Senior Group prize for their project “Coastal Crumbling”.
Several students from Donegal schools were also given the Highly Commended prize for their work.
Abbey Vocational School student Samaire Fern’s project, “An investigation into the effects of videogames and team sports on the understanding of concepts of game theory and problem-solving in students” was Highly Commended in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category.
Caolan Mc Taggart, Daithi Mac Diarmaida and Matthew Farrell from Coláiste Ailigh won their second prize of the awards with a commendation in the Biological and Ecological section for “Staidéar ar éifeacht feirmeoireacha, tithíochta agus tionsclaíochta ar bhithéagsúlacht inbheartabrach abhainn Leanainn.”
Maeve Brady and Clodagh Gibbons from Loreto Community School also were Highly Commended for their project in the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences category titled “Quantitative Analysis of Radon in Donegal.”
Donegal students also won in the Display Award category, with Ethan Dewhirst and Tia Duddy from St Columba’s Comprehensive School winning a prize for their project “Sweet Energy: A New Superfood Energy Pouch with health boosting attributes.”