Mount Usher at Young Scientist
Donovan Webb from East Glendalough School in Wicklow at the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS. His project, with Chloe Gannon, was titled ‘Mount Usher Navigator: the application of new technology to engage young people in natural tourism’.
There was a 50 per cent increase in the number of County Wicklow projects on display at the RDS Primary Science Fair last week, with 15 local schools taking part.
Fourth, fifth and sixth class pupils from schools across the county were among the 3,000 students taking part in the annual fair from Thursday, January 12, to Saturday, January 14, during the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
Representing south Wicklow at the fair was Kilcommon NS in Tinahely with the project ‘Levers and pulleys – How do they lighten our load?’ and St Patrick’s NS, Bearna Chlé, which examined how different factors affect lung capacity.
There were quite a number of projects on display from the north east of the county.
Bray projects included the pupils from New Court Special School in Bray examining what fruits or vegetables will produce the most electricity; St Peter’s NS looking at whether weather affects children’s concentration and learning in school; and St Gerard’s Junior School investigating ‘What type of habitat is the best for biodiversity?’
There were two projects from Greystones, where pupils from the local Educate Together asked ‘How does hydration affect student concentration and performance?’ while the St Laurence’s NS project sought to ‘get the dirt on germs’ by examing which product most effectively removed germs.
Pupils from Powerscourt NS in Enniskerry sought to find out if it’s possible to convert the energy we get from food into electricity while their near-neighbours at St Mary’s and St Gerard’s examined whether different liquids affected the growth of rocket seeds.
The young scientists at Moneystown NS put their minds to exploring shapes in buildings that withstand earthquakes in their project ‘I’m All Shook Up!’
St Coen’s Primary School in Rathnew put its first ever project on display at the fair, having opened for the first time last September following the amalgamation of St Ernan’s BNS and St Joseph’s GNS. The pupils put their heads together to examine what the best type of rock would be for their school plaque.
Two Wicklow town schools also made the trip up to the RDS to display their work. Glebe NS sought to find out what the best way to keep drinks cool without a fridge is, while Wicklow Montessori Primary School examined whether technology is a friend or foe.
Lacken NS flew the flag for Blessington as its pupils investigated whether someone can improve a skill through practice alone while also representing the west of the county was Scoil Naomh Iósaf from Baltinglass, whose pupils examined whether regular exercise contributed to a healthier and happier child.
The RDS Primary Science Fair is part of the RDS Science and Technology programme.