Science « Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh

29 May

PESS Young Scientist Event 2019

Three of our 2nd year students ,Timmy O’Riordan, Brian Donnelly & Ross O Donovan were invited to take part in the P.E.S.S. Young Scientist Event in the University of Limerick on 16th May 2019.

22 schools were invited to Limerick with 60 students in attendance.

The students were given the chance to present their B.T. Young Scientist Competition project titled “An Investigation Into The Possible Damage Caused By Parental Input From The Sideline In Field Sports”.

The students also got the chance to take part in workshops which tested their reaction speeds, hand eye coordination, jump performance and VO2 max levels.

They also had the opportunity to learn more about U.L. and the programs it has to offer.

Ms. A. O’Mahony

13 May

National Final of the International Bebras Challenge on Computational Thinking

Two Transition Year students Leo Callanan and George O’Sullivan Tynan, took part in the National Final of the Bebras Challenge in Computational Thinking in Maynooth University organised as part of Tech Week.

Tech Week is Ireland’s nationwide festival of technology aimed at students, parents and the public.

As part of the challenge, students had to answer 20 questions in 45 minutes on computational thinking.

Both students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

02 May

Pfizer/ I.S.T.A. Chemistry Quiz

Three of our 6th Year students Leon Keating,Kareem Yasser and Keshav Nagar represented C.S.N. in the Pfizer/I.S.T.A. Chemistry quiz on Wednesday night.

Considering they were a three man team in a four person competition (due to a clerical error!) the lads acquitted themselves brilliantly and finished in the top 6 of 40 teams.

Congratulations to them on a fantastic performance.

Mr. N. Brett.

02 May

Salter Festival of Chemistry

Four of of our First Year students took part in the Salters Festival of Chemistry which was held in U.C.C. on Wednesday 1st May.

While at U.C.C. each team participated in two challenges – The Salters Challenge and The University Challenge.

In The Salters Challenge, teams take on the role of forensic scientists. Teams are asked to perform a series of chemistry experiments which involves the analysis of evidence taken from a murder scene and from potential suspects involved in the crime. The aims of the experiments are to show how chemistry can be used in a practical way to find out how the murder was committed and who committed the murder.

In the University Challenge one of the very busy technicians has a major problem! The task for each team during this challenge is to figure out how to solve the problem!

A Chemistry “Magic Show” was held in the afternoon and the boys really enjoyed it.

14 Jan

B.T. Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2019 – Student Report

Below you will see the brief comments of our students on their projects in the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. I would just like to say that we are extremely proud of their achievements in the competition. It is to their credit that so many achieved recognition in awards – even for those who did not, they had the satisfaction of knowing that they were worthy participants in the competition, where most applicants did not make the cut to exhibit. I would also like to thank Aileen O’Mahony and Tim Kerins for offering advice and guidance when it was required. It is also to our students’ credit that much of the work was self-directed and they can take satisfaction that they have achieved so much from that. Well done, guys!

– Mike Foley

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Project Name: An Investigation into the Effect of Font Style and Colour on the Retention of Information while Reading

Team Members: Dylan O’Toole, Thomas Otway and Leo Callanan (Transition Year)

Our project focused on the influence of text presentation on the amount of information students remember while reading. Saturday signified for us the end of months of blood, sweat and tears dedicated to our project. We were delighted to receive a “Highly Commended” award on Friday night in acknowledgement of the quality of our project.

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Project Name: To Investigate how heat produced by decomposing plant matter could aid the growth Of New Plant Life

Team Members: David Rasmussen, Ben Shorten, Eoin Twohig (Transition Year)

Our project investigates the possibility of harnessing heat energy produced from decomposing compost to aid the growth of plants in a small scale greenhouse. We were overjoyed to receive a “Highly Commended” award after three days of judging on Friday.

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Project Name: An Investigation Into The Possible Damage Caused By Parental Input From The Sideline In Field Sports

Team Members: Timmy O’Riordan, Ross O’Donovan, Brian Donnelly (2nd Year)

Our project investigates how parental input from the sideline affects players, coaches and referees. We had loads of fun presenting our project, making new friends and meeting distinguished people such as Simon Harris (Minister for Health) and Mary Lou MacDonald (party leader of Sinn Fein). We were also featured in the Irish Independent.

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Project Name: An investigation into the benefits of non-formal education in Ireland

Team Members: Aidan Mamo Cooney (5th Year)

My project quantifies the benefit of membership in a number of organisations that use non-formal education. I have had a fantastic experience at my second BTYSTE and have learned so much from relating my project to the judges.

I was privileged to receive 2nd in my senior individual social and behavioral science category. I would thoroughly recommend the experience to any student with even a slight interest in STEM

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Project Name: An investigation into whether meditation affects the brains ability to retain information

Team Members: Ben Maher and Cian Hourigan (2nd Year)

Our project investigates the possible effects meditation have on your brain’s ability to retain given information over a short period of time. This project gives us an insight into possible ways of retaining information without having to learn it off. We had a fantastic experience up here at the BTYSE. We would like to thank our fellow students and teachers for this experience.

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Project Name: Can you recycle IT

Project Members: John Garvey and Maahith Malhotra (1st Year)

We loved looking at other peoples ideas as well as showing people our own. There is a very positive atmosphere at the BTYS as well as going to the shows and looking at the other exhibits. We are looking forward to coming again next year. We recommend the exhibition highly to other students who may have thought of an idea but have not yet entered.

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Project Name: Applications of citizen drawn constituencies to the Irish democratic system

Project member: Ciarán Meers (5th Year)

My project uses geographic interface software and the data from the 2016 Census to create a programme that lets you draw Dail constituency boundaries on a population map of Ireland. These can then be sent to the Constituency Commission, so that they can be used as references when they are drawing the new boundaries after the next census. My project received a “Highly Commended” award from the judges. I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Young Scientist exhibition, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in any sort of science.

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11 Jan

B.T. Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2019 – Day 3

Friday proved to be another busy day for our students.

The exhibition was open to the public and the boys had lots of visits to their stands and lots of interest in their projects.

They really enjoyed the whole experience and were delighted to explain to visitors what their projects were all about.

Some of our students had a visit from last years winner Simon Meehan, They were absolutely delighted to meet him.

The awards ceremony took place on Friday evening and we were very proud to be amongst the prizewinners.

Aidan Mamo Cooney was awarded 2nd place, Senior Individual in the Social and Behavioral sciences category.

Project Title: An Investigation Into The Benefits of Non-Formal Education In Ireland

David Rasmussen, Ben Shorten & Eoin Twohig received “Highly Commended” in the Biological and Ecological category

Project Title: To Investigate How Heat Produced By Decomposing Plant Matter Could Aid The Growth of New Plant Life

Dylan O’Toole, Leo Callanan & Thomas Otway received “Highly Commended” in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category.

Project Title: An Investigation Into The Effect of Font Style and Colour On The Retention of Information While Reading

Ciarán Meers received “Highly Commended” for his project in the Technology category

Project Title: Applications of Citizen Drawn Constituencies To The Irish Democratic System

Congratulations to all of our prizewinners and to all of the students that took part and represented C.S.N. so well. Very special thanks and congratulations to the teachers involved Mr. T. Kerins & Ms. A. O’Mahony for their inspiration, hard work and dedication in preparing students and guiding them to such high standards.

10 Jan

B.T. Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2019 – Day 2

Our students and teachers were up bright and early on Thursday morning.

The second round of judging took place before 11.00am and the third round took place that evening.

Some of their classmates travelled to the R.D.S. to support them and they had a fantastic day and were very impressed with what they saw.

Lots of new project ideas for next years exhibition were discussed on the bus journey home.

Three of our students featured in an article in the Irish Independent on Thursday morning.

Their project is: An Investigation Into The Possible Damage Caused By Parental Input From The Sideline In Field Sports

“Timmy O’Riordan, Ross O’Donovan and Brian Donnelly found the input from parents on the sidelines was mainly negative. They surveyed 250 players, coaches and referees involved in their local clubs in Bishopstown.

“We concluded that a silent sideline, we’d recommend it. We think coaches should talk, but parents banned,” said Timmy.”

Photo by: Frank McGrath (Irish Independent)

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/

Two of our First Year students, John Garvey, & Maahith Malhotra featured in Thursday’s Irish Examiner.

Their project ” Can I Recycle it?” is in the Technology category and is a smartphone app which will identify recyclable materials.

Best of luck to all of our students for Day 3!

09 Jan

B.T. Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2019 – Day 1

We have 15 students representing C.S.N. in the B.T. Young Scientist Exhibition this year.

They arrived in the R.D.S. on Wednesday and set up their projects.

The first round of judging also took place on Wednesday and all of the boys did very well and were happy with how it went.

Best of luck to them all on Day 2!

Student Names: John Garvey, Maahith Malhotra (1^st year)

Project Title: Can I Recycle IT?

Category: Technology

Student Names: Timmy O’Riordan, Brian Donnelly, Ross O Donovan (2^nd year)

Project Title: An Investigation Into The Possible Damage Caused By Parental Input From The Sideline In Field Sports

Category: Social and Behavioural Sciences

Student Names: Ben Maher, Cian Hourigan (2^nd year)

Project Title: An Investigation Into Whether Meditation Affects Ones Academic Success

Category: Social and Behavioural Sciences

Student Names: David Rasmussen, Ben Shorten, Eoin Twohig (TY)

Project Title: To Investigate How Heat Produced By Decomposing Plant Matter Could Aid The Growth of New Plant Life

Category: Biological and Ecological

Student Names: Dylan O’Toole, Leo Callanan, Thomas Otway (TY)

Project Title: An Investigation Into The Effect of Font Style and Colour On The Retention of Information While Reading

Category: Social and Behavioural Sciences

Student Name: Aidan Mamo Cooney (5^th year)

Project Title: An Investigation Into The Benefits of Non-Formal Education In Ireland

Category: Social and Behavioural Sciences

Student Name: Ciarán Meers (5^th year)

Project Title: Applications of Citizen Drawn Constituencies To The Irish Democratic System

Category: Technology

03 Dec

Lego League Robotics Competition

Five Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh students took part in the First Lego League Robotics Competition in U.C.C. on Saturday, 1st December

The students that represented C.S.N. were Second Year students Kevin Delage and Judah Arun along with First Year students Oscar Kelleher, Jason Foley and Maahith Malhotra.

The competition involved designing and programming a robot as well as a research project.

Our students won the Core Values award which is awarded to the team who had the most innovation, communication skills and teamwork.

They won medals, certificates and a LEGO Trophy.

Congratulations to them all.

Ms. A. O’Mahony

28 Nov

Second & Third Year Field Trips to Fota

Our Second & Third Year students visited Fota Wildlife Park recently as part of their Science Ecology curriculum.

They completed the Practical Field Ecology course. The course covers all aspects of the Biology module and also allows students time to explore the Park after completing their Woodland survey.