Salesian Secondary College Pallaskenry’s visit to the BT Young Scientist Exhibition was a tremen-dous success! The students brought back 6 of the 120 awards presented to over 550 projects exhibited at the event in the RDS Dublin from the 6th-9th January. Davida Shiels, Sarah Meaney and Michelle Maher (TY) were overall winners of the coveted Jack Restan Display Award. This award was for the project which presented its scientific concepts, details, images and research findings in the most clear, interesting and professional manner. As well as this fantastic achievement the trio were also chosen as one of six groups from the 550 projects exhibited to attend the BT Business Bootcamp later this year. The Bootcamp, delivered in partnership with UCD, takes place at NovaUCD and aims to bridge the gap between education and business for students who demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and business acumen. The students will be tasked with developing an outline business approach to commercialise their young scientist project, “Does exercise have an effect on the quality and quantity of milk produced by a dairy herd?”.

Daniel McSweeney and Jamie Fitzgerald (5th Year) picked up a ‘Highly Commended’ award for their project ‘Farm Safety – Obvious Yet Dangerous!’. The judges praised the boys who surveyed over 500 farmers on farm safety procedures followed on their farms, and designed a leaflet from their findings to highlight the issues that farmers need to take heed of and be aware of for their own and others’ safety. Four other groups won display awards for the presentation and design of their projects and their delivery of them to the judges. Congratulations to all involved, and the planning starts again next week for next year’s ideas, so get thinking!