Despite the adverse weather conditions that led to school closures last week, six dedicated students from Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, along with their Science teachers, Ms. Catherine Kennedy and Ms. Jessica Keane, spent four exciting days at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is much more than a competition; it is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for the students who take part. This year, Presentation Secondary School students showcased their innovative projects and achieved commendable success.
Cara Leahy and Ella Danagher’s project, ‘Using Spectrometry to Detect, Identify and Reduce Pollution in Rural and Urban Areas’, was highly commended in the Senior Category of Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences. Grace Foley’s project, ‘Yummy, Yummy! Uh Oh! Microplastics in My Tummy’, was entered in the Biological & Ecological category and Caoimhe Barry, Kate Nolan, and Medb Culhane researched ‘Acne in Teenagers’ in the Health & Wellbeing category.
Principal Katherina Broderick highlighted the school’s consistent participation in the exhibition, stating, “The support of teachers, Chris Kiely, Catherine Kennedy, and Jessica Keane is instrumental to the students’ achievement. The work involved is significant, but the value of entering the Young Scientist is immeasurable for our students. It not only develops skills of research and learning in their chosen project areas but also takes them out of their comfort zone, helping them build confidence and develop communication and interpersonal skills.”
The students who attended described the experience as “unforgettable and really worthwhile.” They had the opportunity to meet other students with similar passions from all over the country, making the event a truly enriching experience.
For the past three years, Presentation Secondary School has made it to the final stage of the competition at the RDS in Dublin. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of both the students and their teachers and as with all school activities, the support of parents/guardians is appreciated.
