20 Kilkenny projects to make big bang at Young Scientist Exhibition
Hurling, Irish whiskey and GAA injures are the topic of just some of the projects selected from Kilkenny schools that are going forward to the finals of the 2020 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.
An impressive 20 projects from across five Kilkenny schools made it through the exhibition, now in its 57th year.
In total, over 1,800 projects were submitted by students all across of Ireland. Now that has now been whittled down to 550, all of which will be on display in the RDS between January 8 and 11.
The Kilkenny schools involved are Castlecomer Community School, Loreto Secondary School, St Kieran’s College, Meánscoil na mBráithre Criostaí and Coláiste Pobal Osraí.
Speaking at the announcement of the finalists, Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, said: “It is so important for our young people to develop analytical skills, critical thinking and creativity.
“Every year the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition makes this happen. It is an inspiration. I was deeply impressed at last year’s event by the scale of ambition from all the students, their ability to explain their projects and the knowledge and skill that they demonstrated.
“The type of projects also highlighted what is important to young people. This year is no different with topical themes such as climate change, wellbeing and health.”
A significant number of the projects this year delve into pressing social issues such as mental health, transgender rights and the effects that social media has on young people.
A full list of the Kilkenny student’s projects is published below.
| School Name | Project Name | Competition Group | ||
| Kilkenny | Loreto Secondary School | Is there a place for older people on social media and smartphone applications? | Social and Behavioural Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Loreto Secondary School | Which colour are teenagers most drawn to? | Biological and Ecological | Group |
| Kilkenny | Castlecomer Community School | A study into the prevalence of twins skipping a generation in our community | Social and Behavioural Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Loreto Secondary School | Exploring fractals | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Loreto Secondary School | Heed your speed-the impact of a behavioural change intervention on driver behaviour | Social and Behavioural Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Loreto Secondary School | The effect Terroir has on the taste of Irish Whiskey | Biological and Ecological | Group |
| Kilkenny | St Kieran’s College | Hurling’s Winning Formula – A statistical and comparative study to predict the outcome of senior inter county championship and senior schools hurling matches. | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | St Kieran’s College | Common injuries among adolescents in GAA the cause and prevention’s compared to other sports | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Meánscoil na mBráithre Criostaí | Minimum amount of time to wait before allowing schoolchildren to retrieve items from a car boot | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Meánscoil na mBráithre Criostaí | Ipads vs. Textbooks? An Investigation into the Effect of Ipads on Academic Success. | Social and Behavioural Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Loreto Secondary School | To investigate if participation in sport increases emotional resilience in adolescents | Social and Behavioural Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Coláiste Pobal Osraí | Ag méadú éifeachtúlacht caidéal teasa tríd comhcheangail córas téamh agus fuarú | Technology | Individual |
| Kilkenny | Coláiste Pobal Osraí | Ag stopadh ollghluaiseacht | Biological and Ecological | Group |
| Kilkenny | St Kieran’s College | Organic food…Is it really better for the environment? | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Meánscoil na mBráithre Criostaí | The correlation between memory and the senses | Biological and Ecological | Group |
| Kilkenny | Coláiste Pobal Osraí | An mbíonn tionchar ag deochanna fuinnimheach agus deochanna spóirt ar toilleadh aeróbach aclaíochta in deagoirí idir 12-16 blian d’aois? | Biological and Ecological | Group |
| Kilkenny | Loreto Secondary School | Tackling climate change through plastic | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Coláiste Pobal Osraí | Cén éifeacht a bhíonn ag úsaid méain shóisialta ar féinmhuinín deagóirí? | Social and Behavioural Sciences | Group |
| Kilkenny | Meánscoil na mBráithre Criostaí | Is greyhound racing ethical? | Social and Behavioural Sciences | Individual |
| Kilkenny | Meánscoil na mBráithre Criostaí | Quick Shop | Technology | Group |
