Hard work pays off for pupil Christina Mulvey
MONTHS of hard has paid off for Gorey Educate Together fifth class pupil Christina Mulvey who won Best Project Book at the Grand Final of Intel Mini Scientist.
More than 8,000 pupils from across Ireland took part in the competition, which is now in it’s 11th year. But Christina’s ‘Ecological Roulette’ project was picked as one of the overall winners at the final held in the Helix, Dublin.
Minster for Education and Skills Richard Bruton presented Christina with her award.
Principal for Gorey Educate Together Raymond Swan said: ‘We are very proud of her and the hard work she put in to the project.
‘This is the schools sixth time entering the competition, but it is our first time winning the Grand Final.’
Mr Swan explained the project, called Ecological Roulette, was an investigation in to the plastic in the eco system and the ocean.
‘Christina got the idea from the Tsunami which happened in 2011 and the plastic that had drifted across the ocean,’ added Mr Swan.
Mr Bruton said ‘competitions like these are so important’, because young people who take part in initiatives like this are more likely to go on and have a career that will help solve problems.
It gives participants the chance to explore science through project based learning and exhibitions.
The first phase of the program involves fourth, fifth and sixth class pupils entering local level exhibitions, where Intel judges visit the participating schools, choosing two winning projects in each. The second part is the Mini Scientist Regional Final, followed by the Grand Final.
The 8,000 participants were whittled down to just 28 for the Grand Final. They exhibited their projects for a panel of judges who had the difficult task of choosing the winners.
Each display included visual aids, books, and practical experiments.