Louth students win at SciFest 2017
TWO DUNDALK STUDENTS CELEBRATE NATIONAL AWARD FOR PROJECT
TWO Louth students won a national award at the 10th anniversary SciFest 2017 for their project examining the exposure of children to emissions while at school.
Dearbhla McCourt and Ruth Clarke, fifth-year students from St Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk competed among the top young scientific minds at SciFest 2017 and were awarded an Excellence in STEM award, for their project ‘Park and Stride - The Hidden Hazards.’
The project used sensors to examine the emissions levels that children are exposed to in schools at the centre of Dundalk at peak times due to passing traffic. The results showed that on average, children are exposed to greater emission levels than adults.
Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Strategy and Communications at Science Foundation Ireland, presented Dearbhla and Ruth with their prize – the Excellence in STEM Award. Dearbhla and Ruth secured their place at the National Final after their success at the SciFest regional final in Dundalk IT.
Dearbhla and Ruth were among 42 students who went on to exhibit their 26 STEM projects at the national final.
Sheila Porter, SciFest CEO, said: ‘ This year is the ten-year anniversary of SciFest and it is wonderful to see the level of talent, enthusiasm and determination on display today. The aim of SciFest is to develop a love of STEM and of inquiry-based learning. Those values are very much evident here today, with students from around the country demonstrating the incredible work that they have put into their projects and experiments. Over the past 10 years SciFest has grown enormously and I am delighted that we have reached this important milestone. Previous entrants have gone on to develop their projects and become leaders in the areas of science, medicine, engineering, information technology and many other fields.’
Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD said, ‘We live in a rapidly changing world and our education system must respond by equipping our young people with the skills and knowledge to thrive in such an environment. That is why I have placed such an emphasis on the teaching and learning of STEM in my role as Minister, as part of my overall ambition to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe within a decade. Indeed, I will shortly launch a comprehensive STEM plan which will outline how my Department proposes to ignite a passion for the STEM subjects in all students. The STEM subjects are crucial for equipping our young people with creativity, adaptability, problem-solving and critical thinking– skills which are so important for their future. SciFest is an excellent initiative that supports and enhances what we are trying to do at a government level and I am very impressed by the standard of projects displayed.’