Best in Class: Donegal students win big at BT Young Scientist competition

Abbey Vocational School students Jane Faulkner and Robyn Given picked up a much-coveted category winners prize at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

The pair took the top award in the Senior Biological and Ecological Group category at the  awards ceremony on Friday evening for their project 'Which is the most 'essential' essential oil at preventing fungal mould on fruit'.

Their proud teacher Donna Furey said: "Congratulations on this amazing achievement.

"Between them the girls have been selected to take part in the BTYST Exhibition an amazing eight times, with Jane reaching the final consecutively for the last five years, proving that perseverance really does pay in Science and scientific enquiry."

Fellow Abbey Vocational School student Samaire Fern was highly commended in her category, Senior individual Social and Behavioral for her project 'An investigation into the effects of videogames and team sports on the understanding of concepts of game theory and problem-solving in students.'

Coláiste Cholmcille student Alistair Cian also took home a prestigious category winner prize. His project 'The gut microbiome, what do YOU know?' won first place in the Individual Social and Behavioural Sciences category.

Loreto Secondary School students Ciara McDermott and Siobhán O’Brien took home the prize for third place in the Senior Group Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences for their 'Coastal Crumbling' project.

Saoirse Gallagher and Sienna Devine from Coláiste Ailigh claimed third place in the Junior Group Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences for the project 'Imscrúdú ar éifeachtúlacht Olann gharbh mar inslitheoir tí ailtéarnach.'

Coláiste Ailigh’s Caolan McTaggart, Daithi Mac Diarmada and Matthew Farrell were highly commended in the Biological and Ecological category for their project Staidéar ar éifeacht feirmeoireacha, tithíochta agus tionsclaíochta ar bhithéagsúlacht inbheartabrach abhainn Leanainn.’ And this project received a special award, An Fóram Uisce – The Water Forum Award.

Maeve Brady and Clodagh Gibbons from Loreto Community School were highly commended in the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences for their project ‘Quantitative Analysis of Radon in Donegal.’

Ethan Dewhirst and Tia Duddy of St Columba’s Comprehensive School won a display award for their project 'Sweet Energy: A New Superfood Energy Pouch with health boosting attributes' in the Technology category.

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “Meeting students exhibiting projects this week and witnessing the innovation, creativity and attention to detail which they have applied to their research has been a great honour.

"The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition continues to demonstrate the breadth of what’s possible in our world when open and inquiring minds ask questions and explore new opportunities and solutions."

The BTYSTE opened in the RDS on Wednesday, January 10 and continues until January 13. The standard of projects is extemely high, and reaching the exhibition stage of the competition is in itself a fantastic achievement.