Transition Year and Second Year MCS students were delighted to receive notification on Monday 21^st of October that their projects were accepted for the BTYSE exhibition next January.  The students have been doing tremendous work so far on their projects since September for their initial scientific investigations and proposals.

 

Transition Year students’ projects

Fionn Murphy and Gavin Quilty

Generating Power by Harnessing Swells Close to the Seashore

In their project, the students aim to generate energy renewably using sea swells along Ireland’s coastline. They are building a Swellerator prototype including a buoyant shell and hydraulic model to harvest the kinetic energy from the changing levels of sea swells.

 

Aoife Ross, Katie Creggy and Katie Ann McHugh

Fungi Civil War: Using Birch Polypore to Develop a Treatment Spray for Bovine Ringworm

This group are using extracts from the mushrooms which grow on decaying birch trees to develop an antifungal treatment for ringworm in cattle.

 

Hollie Field, Heidi Shellam and Saoirse Lynam

Electrobloom: An Electroculture Growth Chamber to Increase the Germination and Yield of Protected Crop

Noting the challenges faced by the protected vegetable sector in Ireland, these students are developing a growth chamber which will utilise copper coils to support the growth of developing crops.

 

Aoibh Larkin, Leah Pillion and Kayla Moran

Botanical Barriers: Harnessing Plant Compounds for UV Protection During Nail Treatment

These students are aware of the harmful effects of UV rays used for nail manicures, including skin cancer and premature aging of skin. They are exploring an alternative natural base coat made from kale and green grapes which will shield the UV rays.

 

 

Second Year students’ projects

Aoife Howlin and Ally Duffy

Nutri-Flo: A Natural Tree Nut Water Filter for Cattle

The students are investigating a labour-free water drinker which farmers can use to improve the health and safety of their herd.  Their drinker filters the water using extracts from the nuts of native Irish oak and hazel trees.

 

Lucy Carroll

Methane Busters: Harnessing Tannins and Feed Additives to Clean Up Slurry Tank Emissions

Lucy is investigating the reduction of methane emissions from slurry tanks of bovine herds. She is analysing the antimicrobial properties of plant leaves and nuts from carrot, oak, willow, pine, black tea and chestnut in reducing the emissions of these greenhouse gases.

 

Mollie Quinn

Crouch-Bind-Set

In her project, Mollie aims to improve the welfare and safety of amateur and professional rugby players. She is designing a scrum cap which will reduce the impact force on players skull during tackles and alert coaches to excessive force.

 

The following projects were submitted from students in Moate Community School but unfortunately did not qualify.

Fifth Year student Fionn Campbell A Crystal-Clear Way to Slow Down Ireland’s Traffic Crisis

Transition Year students

Grace Galvin and Sophie Padden Is High Performance in Port out of Reach for Short People?

Áine Flynn, Avril Flynn and Clodagh Kelly Mindful Microwaving: Quantifying the Risk Microwaving School Lunches Poses to Student Health through Microplastic Release

 

Names for photo:

Back row:

Fionn Murphy, Saoirse Lynam, Aoibh Larkin, Kayla Moran, Heidi Shellam, Hollie Field, Leah Pillion, Aoife Ross, Gavin Quilty

Front Row: Mollie Quinn, Lucy Carroll, Ally Duffy, Aoife Howlin, Katie Ann McHugh

Missing from photo: Katie Creggy