Young Scientist cleans up with drug discovery
A CORK student who has discovered a potentially new antibiotic scooped the top prize at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition last night.
Simon Meehan, a Transition Year student from Coláiste Choilm in Ballincolig, won the award for his project which could potentially be used to develop a new antibiotic capable of beating antimicrobial resistant bacteria, including MRSA.
He enter was titled entitled an ‘Investigation into the antimicrobial effects of both aerial and root parts of selected plants against Staphylococcus aureus’.
The 15-year-old presented his two-year project in the Biological and Ecological section of the Intermediate category.
He takes home the largest prize fund yet of €7,500, the BTYSTE perpetual trophy and an exclusive trip to Bletchley Park in the UK, the famous Second World War coding centre.
The coveted award was presented to him in the BT Arena by Education Minister Richard Bruton and BT Ireland chief Shay Walsh. Simon will now represent Ireland at the EU Contest for Young Scientists in the RDS, Dublin, in September.
The award for group winner went to 16-year-olds James Knoblauch, Harry Knoblauch and Oran O’Donoghue, fifth year students from St. Brendan’s College Killarney, Co. Kerry, for their project – ‘An Investigation into Conformity and How Minorities Influence it’.
The students were in the Social and Behavioural Category at Senior level. Congratulating them all, Mr Bruton said: ‘I’m delighted to be here at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
‘It’s fantastic to see so many young people engaged and inspired by the STEM subjects and their application to real world problems.
‘The exhibition is a highlight for the education calendar every year.’
Mr Walsh added: ‘This year’s exhibition has exceeded all expectations showcasing projects and innovations which are now, more than ever, pivotal for the future of our society.
‘Our theme this year is It Starts Here – but this is only the beginning and it is vitally important that every student’s voyage of discovery does not end here.’
A total of 2,031 projects from 4,251 students were submitted this year, with every county represented by a submission.
Entries from female students made up 60% of the total and there was a record number received from DEIS schools.