CAOIMHE AND SHAUNA STRIKE GOLD IN USA
TWO AWARDS FOR MALLOW GIRLS AT INTEL FAIR IN PITTSBURGH
CAOIMHE Cronin and Shauna Murphy from St. Mary’s Secondary School won two awards, worth $1,500, at the recent Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held in Pittsburgh, from May 10 to May 15.
Intel ISEF is the world’s largest high school science research competition.
The second year students presented a projected entitled, ‘Measurement of Radon Emanation and its Correlation with Indoor Radon Levels in Some Areas of Mallow’. The American Chemical Society gives a special award for innovative research of chemical science. Caoimhe and Shauna placed fourth with a prize of $1,000.
Their second award was in the chemistry category of grand awards. Again, the girls placed fourth with a cash prize, this time $500.
In order to win these prizes, the Mallow students had to compete against 1,700 students from 75 countries.
“Intel believes young people are key to future innovation and that in order to confront the global challenges of tomorrow, we need students from all backgrounds to get involved in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the Intel Foundation.
The success of the St. Mary’s girls at Intel ISEF was preceded by three awards at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition held in Dublin earlier this year. It was their success in Dublin that resulted in their participation at Intel ISEF.
Caoimhe and Shauna were accompanied on their trip to the United States by their teacher and mentor, Mr. Martin Timmons and a small group of family and friends.
Needless to say, all were ecstatic when the award winners were announced. Everyone at St. Mary’s is extremely proud of what the girls, and their support team, have achieved.