Two of the three Irish projects in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have won awards.

Ruairi O’Neill (16) and Eoghan Flynn (15), Freshman Blackwater Community School, Waterford, were among those awarded second place in environmental management with their project on alternative fuel generation from end-of-life plastics. They generated a unique “polyfuel” by processing used plastics which is cleaner-burning than diesel.

Placing fourth in the computer science category was Henrik Bruesecke (19) of St Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties, Co Donegal, with his project on a program for optimally managing multiple computer processors. Now studying computer science at Trinity College Dublin, he also took second prize from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers at Intel’s Special Awards Ceremony, held before the main awards.

The third Irish project was by BT Young Scientist winner Aoife Gregg (16), whose work focused on cryptography and letter frequencies in the Irish language.