Dara Shortall was awarded Best Project at the Regional SciFest (TÚS) for the project, Developing Modified Buffer Strips to Increase Biodiversity and Water Quality in Grassland.
Four projects from MCS Transition Year students were presented at the exhibition, as well as one project from a MCS First Year students. The students and their projects received eight prestigious awards at the event at the Technical University of the Shannon (TÚS).

Dara Shortall, presented his project with great enthusiasm, confidence and understanding. Dara worked with Dean Burns and Eoin Murphy on the project. The judges remarked how impressed they were with the project and could see its huge further potential. Dara will present his project at the National Final of SciFest in November. He also received three other awards, Best Project in the Life Sciences Category, the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Life Sciences Award and the Business Excellence (BEX) Award.
Gráinne Kelly was awarded Best Individual Project in Life Sciences Award for Seeing Sweetness and received Best Communicator Award sponsored by Fenergo.
Abbie Coolahan and Aoife Lacey were awarded a Spectrum Display Award and the Energy Innovation Award sponsored by Vermillion Energy for their Biodegradable Weed Barrier project.
Poppy Hennessy and Sive Brady their project, High frequency to save food also in the Life Sciences Category.

First year students Hannah Higgins, Liam Howlin and Muireann Lowry presented their project, Investigating the effectiveness of Mycorrhizal fungi and increasing drought tolerance of crops. These students grew Mustard seeds, Rye grass and Cocksfoot grass under drought and normal conditions, inoculating some with Mycorrihizal fungi. They measured the growth of their plants and the crop yields. Thus, examining the effectiveness of the fungi in supporting the drier growing conditions farmers have been experiencing in recent years.
Well done to all the MCS students at the Scifest Exhibition.

Names in group photo:

Ms Margaret Mandal, Aoife Lacey, Abbie Coolahan, Poppy Hennessy, Sive Brady, Muireann Lowry, Hannah Higgins, Grainne Kelly, Dara Shortall and Liam Howlin