Science « Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh

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.

21 Nov

T.Y Chemistry Field Trip

Our Transition Year Chemistry class took part in a workshop and guided tour of Janssen Pharmaceutical (Johnson and Johnson) in Little Island.

It was organised by Junior Achievement Ireland for International Mens Day.

Many thanks to Janssen Pharmaceutical for the opportunity to take part in the workshop.

Mr. N. Brett.

16 Nov

ISTA Annual Senior Science Quiz

C.S.N. had three Sixth Year teams take part in the I.S.T.A. Senior Science Quiz Regional Finals on Thursday, 15th November.

There were 48 teams participating and one of our teams qualified to go through to the National Finals which will be held in Trinity College next Saturday, 24th November.

Well done to all of our students and best of luck to Team C in the National Finals.

Participating Students:

Team A: Anjan Amin, Jason Scully, Conor Moore

Team B: Cibile Cyriac, Faizan Gul, Michael Chandley

Team C: Keshav Nager, Kareem Abdel Rahman, Leon Keating (qualified)

26 Oct

B.T Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2019

Congratulations to the 15 students from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh who had their projects accepted at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2019. They will exhibit their projects at the RDS in early January 2019.

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

18 Oct

SciFest National Final 2018

Aidan Mamo Cooney and I from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh have been lucky enough to be picked to represent our school and county at the 2018 SciFest National Final after winning our regional round in Cork Institute of Technology – CIT.

As part of this final we have made a video to share the results of our project. We are really proud of what we have achieved and its results.

Our project aims to reduce waiting lists for young people for access to vital mental health services. Using source data from HSE Ireland we analysed to optimum way to allocate resources.

We really want to share our findings and we would really appreciate it if you voted for our video and shared the link! You can vote once a day for the rest of the month.

Thanks very much,
Tony O’Halloran

https://woobox.com/ym47fm/gallery/vFyy8aG_Q6s TY.ie