Highly commended participants in this year's BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
BIOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL:
Junior
Group:Niamh Murray, Lynne Bowhan, Keeping eggs fresh, Scoil Uí Mhuirí; Aisling Mc Carthy, Niamh Mc Carthy, Holly Chapman, To investigate the potential of using varied enzyme combinations to improve the efficiency of the modern dishwasher, Coláiste Choilm; Calem Roelofs, Kieran Killeen, How does music affect heart rate?, Meánscoil Na Mbráithre; Eimear Nic Eoin, Hannah Ní Choileáin, Leasu organach as cnamh eisc, Coláiste Íde; Christopher OHagan, Conor OKane, Donal O Leary, Can SODIS work in Ireland?, De La Salle College; Aaron Barron, Pádraig Ó hAirmhí, Truailliú in aibhneacha, Coláiste Pobal Osraí - Kilkenny; Meg Tyrrell, Isabella Hopkins, The influence of hand, foot, eye and ear dominance on balance and memory, Rathdown School; Roisín Harrington, Emma Murphy, Comparison of the effectiveness of over-the-counter and professional tooth whitening products, Coláiste Choilm.
Individual:Eanna Reynolds, The behavioural patterns of the helix aspersa and the gastropod mollusc colony in the horticultural habitat of North Dublin, Ardgillan Community College; Katie Cogley, Comparison of the accuracy of minimum invasive surgery and standard hip replacement surgery, Sacred Heart Secondary School; Jack Magee, Looking at Lough Owel as a fishery and assessing Lough Owels reliance on stock fish-trout, Athlone Community College.
Intermediate
Group:Aoife McNally, Aoife Clarke, To determine the effect of commonly used domestic food packaging materials on bacterial growth, St Vincents Secondary School; David Connellan, Beau Carley, Killian Creaner, An investigation into the symbiotic relationship between the growth of micro-organisms and plants in various soil types from around Ireland, Belvedere College; Caoimhe McNamara, Aly McConnell Walshe, Joshua Tobin, Cellulase- the enzyme to save the planet,Sutton Park School; Marian Brosnan, Kathryn McCarthy, Triona Dunleavy, An investigation into the effect cider vinegar has on the somatic cell count of cows milk, Hazelwood College; Alannah McCartney, Aoife Mahon, Sarah McGill, Well water v domestic water, St Vincents Secondary School; Aoife Boyle, Stephanie Hanan, Kate Ennis, To test the free radical theory of ageing and the counteracting effects of antioxidants, St Wolstans Community School; Shauna Macklin, Claire Mullen, Aisling Feeley, Effectiveness of hand hygiene under various situations, Scoil Muire gan Smál - Roscommon; Garima Kandel, Nierella Abria, An eco-friendly wound dressing containing a plant based glue and spaghnum moss, St Josephs College - Lucan; Hannah Breen, Kate Kavanagh, A study on the transmission of tuberculosis, Coláiste Bhríde; Elizabeth Brockman- Icke, Sinead ORiordan, A feasibility study of rain water harvesting for our school with specific attention to water quality and health risks, Mount St Michael; Grace Rothwell-Kelly, Kiera Mortimer, Development of a rapid and simple kit for analysis of coliform bacteria, St Andrews College; Aine McPhillips, Tara Cregan, Cindy Chen, A comparison of oxygenating plants found in Irish ponds, Presentation Secondary School - Cork; Tara OCarroll, Aoife Sutton, Claire Shanahan, Multi-vitamin supplements = thriving lambs - true or false?, Presentation Secondary School - Thurles; Lauren Murphy, Orla Mc Phillips, Muireann O Rourke, Does eye colour and tongue rolling need the x-factor?, Ballybay Community College; Mairéad Kelly, Fiona McLoone, Shona Levins, Quantitative analysis of red meat subjected to different storage and cooking regimes, Holy Faith Secondary School; Sophie Andrews-McCarroll, Nicholas Stratford, How to clean up the gulf, Wesley College - Ballinteer; Megan Duffy, Ella Englishby, Do stomata on hedera helix (ivy) leaves form fibonacci spirals?, St Vincents Secondary School; Mario Fusco, Sean Mac Uilegoid, An alternative to alcohol-based mouthwashes, Coláiste Feirste; Laura Walsh, Sarah OBrien, To investigate the jumping potential of horses, Presentation Secondary School - Thurles.
Individual:Darina Lynch, Fresh water sponge - a transgenic future?, St Marys Secondary School - Macroom; Yvonne Mullins, Investigation and comparisons of different silage wrapping, Presentation Secondary School - Thurles; Eoin Ryan, The occurrence of hypothermia in springboard divers - the solution, St Josephs Academy.
Senior
Group:Kieran Poll, Niall Kirwan, Orla Dunne, Bryophytes-a carbon sink and seasonal insulator, Scoil Chonglais; Niamh Ní Leathlobhair, Aisling O Donovan, Ciara Horgan, Transgenerational epigenetic consequences of smoking: Are our ancestors bad habits affecting our DNA?, Presentation Secondary School - Tralee.
CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
Junior
Group:Alex Price, Darragh Derivan, Tom Stanton, Air pressure rocket, Sandford Park School Ltd; Lola Hourihane, Katherine Burton, Gabrielle Condren Kuipers, A solution for accurate solubility testing in the Junior Certificate, Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Our Ladys Grove; Calvin Phillips, Borys Stan, Stephen O Reilly, Biomass energy, St Josephs Academy.
Individual:Craig Palmer, Alcohol and dehydration!!, St Josephs Academy; Samataar Jailani, Will having a game plan increase a players chances of winning? A scientific study,Ardgillan Community College.
Intermediate
Individual:Saoirse Nash, The development and evaluation of a handy method to determine the concentration of active ingredients in Ramipril and Simvastatin, St Marys College; Cian Rynne, A detailed study of traditional Irish music patterns, St Colmcilles Community School; Rónán Mac Giolla Rua, A number of theorems and proofs on the arbelos, Meánscoil Iognáid Ris; Helen McEvoy, Analysis of endgames in a dots-and-boxes game, Our Ladys College - Drogheda.
Senior
Individual:Shane Forde, Investigation into the effects of atmospheric winds on meteor trains, St Patricks High School.
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
Junior
Group:Debola Shomoye, Deola Shomoye, A scientific investigation into the correlation between physical activity and academic performance, Balbriggan Community College; Luke Mc Leod, Thomas Moore, A scientific investigation into the reaction times and concentration levels of distracted drivers, Balbriggan Community College; Cathal Treacy, Joel Breslin, Splashing out or water down the drain?, St Colmcilles Community School; Christina Ní Luachra, Caoimhe Nic Giolla Chóill, Louise Nic Aoidh, Éifeachtaí tromaíocht cibearchoireachta ar deagoirí,Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair; Christopher Lynn, Jordan Knocker, Mitchell McKee, WCBin it: Optimising litter collection in the canteen, Wellington College; Alanna Moore, Róisín Hally, Laura Walsh, Because were worth it! But are we?, Presentation Secondary School - Thurles; Emilie Murphy, Kelly Cronin, Hazel Harrington, Hair to dye for!, St Gobans College; Sam Haley, Matthew Bryson, James McGrath, Diagnosing seasonal affective disorder in a school environment, Bangor Gs; Chloe Ryan, Sarah Fisher, Rachael Drysdale, Does a lack of sleep have an impact on mental and physical ability, Donabate Community College,; Sarah Thornton, Jennifer Ryan, Stress in An Garda Síochána: Causes, coping skills, can we help?, Kilrush Community School; Eilish Bonner, Aideen Meehan, How child-proof are child-proof containers?, Rosses Community School; Cáit McKeown, Clare McKernen, Music and learning: Can your heart rate be a factor?, St Aloysius School.
Individual:Conor OBrien, A study of moral behaviour, Belvedere College; Ciara Boyle, A statistical study of swimming uptake in relation to location and demographics, Kinsale Community School.
Intermediate
Group:Martina Cullinane, Louise Hallahan, Abbie OShea, Facelessbook: The death of the Irish community, Blackwater Community School; Kellie Ní Dhuibhir, Megan Ní Chonluain, Donna Nic Uilligóid, Cruthach nó theicniúil-cén taobh den intinn a úsáideann tú?, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann; John Mears, Darragh Coffey, Colin Jackson, Investigation into the awareness of poverty in the Third World, Ardscoil Uí Urmoltaigh; Seán Daly, Dylan Byrne, A scoring analysis of the 2010 Senior Football Championship, Heywood Community School; Daniel Nyhan, Sean White, Michael McCarthy, A healthy food production education program for the developing world,Clonakilty Community College; Hannah Samuel, Melissa Zaidan, Helena Nzanga, Energy star, St Josephs College - Lucan; Mark Smith, John McAndrew, Athlete burn-out: causes, awareness and prevention, Catholic University School; Ruth Kelly, Aisling Ormsby, Aoife Healy, Investigation into memory/intelligence of the common Irish woodlice, Scoil Muire gan Smál - Roscommon; Hannah Finn, Keira Lynch, Aisling Reid, Can I race it and ace it?, Dominican College - Drumcondra; Majella Hayden, Donna Byrne, Áine Redmond, iStudy: Definitive guide to exam preparation in the modern students world, Coláiste Lorcáin; Adam Byrne, Darragh OConnor, Aaron Cosulich, Arrive alive!, De La Salle College; Gary O Callaghan, David Geary, An investigation into under-age drinking in Ireland, Coláiste Cholmáin; Kerri Mc Ardle, Gemma Mulligan, Donna Duffy, Why not just learn it from the book!, Our Ladys Secondary School - Monaghan; Sarah Byrne, Danniella Barney, Using phones - A distraction?, Abbey Community College - Wicklow; Hannah Markey, Nicola Roe, The voices of Monaghan, Ballybay Community College; Peter Howley, Áine Coleman, Lorna Hanley, Mentoring bullying : Does it work?, Jesus Mary Secondary School; Proinnsias Ó Gallchóir, Shane Mac Grianna, Tomas Ó Duibheannaigh, Fiosrú ar an mhí-úsáid a fhaigheann oifígí CLG i gcomparáid le oifigí rugbaí ar an pháirc, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair; Paul Fahey, Scott Critchley, Jonathan Murphy, Attitudes towards speeding!, St Josephs Academy; Eric Stam, David Dennehy, How school affects the spine and shoulder, neck and back muscles, Coláiste Choilm; Gráinne Long, Anna Soye, A behavioural study on peer pressure in young adults, Sacred Heart School.
Individual:Katie Connole, Could a fuel tax replace road tax?, Mary Immaculate Secondary School - Lisdoonvarna; Grainne Cunningham, The impact of the newly introduced human papillomavirus vaccination (hpv) scheme in our schools- a local study, St. Louis Secondary School; Amy Restan, CF screening: Can a change in attitude change incidence?, Alexandra College.
Senior
Group:Hazel Telford, Katie Gilligan, Emma Mc Loughlin, Open up or switch on?, Ursuline College; Shaun Sweeney, Eoin Ferry, Kealan Blake, Are Irish people being moved by the times in the wrong direction?, Loreto Community School; Kim Smith, Jenny Harmon, Investigating the attitudes and habits of teenagers on our roads, Tallaght Community School; Meg OConnell, Kirsty Simms, Sharon Lucey, The psychological effects of moving from primary to secondary school,Schull Community College; Art Og O Sulleabháin, Bernard Kennedy, Kevin Keena, Up-grading! How the new Irish and Maths syllabi will impact higher level uptake in the next 5 years, St. Geralds College.
TECHNOLOGY
Junior
Group:Laura Nic Ionnrachtaigh, Sarah Murray, Portable paper puncher - Pollaire páipéar iniompartha, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh; Hugh Logue, Padraic Ginty, Shane Ginnelly, E-Gear (expandable gear), McHale College; Méabh Smyth, Aoibhin Osborne, Blaithin Johnston, Pull your socks up!, Our Ladys GS; Caoimhe Hoey, Claire Purcell, Alice Brogan, The solar powered scooter, Coláiste Mhuire; Joe Rock, Hugh Tiernan, Invincityre, Abbey Christian Brothers Gs; David Upton, Darragh Mc Mahon, Alchemiser, Desmond College - Limerick.
Individual:David Fitzsimons, Electrical energy from fruit and vegetables, Marist College - Athlone; John Neill, Key call, Down High School; Glenn Mooney, A walking aid for the visually impaired, Abbey Christian Brothers Gs.
Intermediate
Group:Fia Long, Íde Walshe, An investigation into an alternative cooking method using solar power and mirrors to create a concave of heat, Coláiste Choilm; Aaron Duncan, Aodhán Newsholme, Micheal Duggan, Pneumatic flood prevention system, Skerries Community College; Ailbhe Ní Mhóráin, Fiona O Connor, How rocky is your road?, Loreto College - St Stephens Green; Emily Goode, Ernesta Venslovaite, Lisa Byrne, The neem sock - Allowing diabetic sufferers to throw the ball at foot complications, St Josephs College - Lucan; Eoghan Moriarty, Trevor McSweeney, Drive bay cooler for the PC, Comprehensive School - Tarbert; Faye Murphy, Caoimhe Hill, The design and evaluation of a novel heat recovery device to improve efficiency in tumble drying applications, Kinsale Community School; Mark Collier, Seán Brodie, Aaron Connolly, Investigating the factors of a search engine algorithm, St. Fintans High School; Caroline Gunning, Emma Healy, Lorna Dowd, C omparative investigation into noise reduction in different iPod headphone materials/designs, Scoil Muire gan Smál - Roscommon.
Individual:Gavin ODriscoll, Compressed air: The future of energy?, Ardscoil Uí Urmoltaigh; Steven Shannon, Reclaiming crutches for reuse, Sligo Grammar School.
Senior
Group:Shane McCarthy, Joseph Fitzgerald, P.J. Curran, A glass idea, Blackwater Community School; Leah Hayes, Aisling Davis, Sophie Murphy, Live for the momentum - an investigation into the feasibility of improving speedboat momentum, Ursuline College.