We recently held a small, outdoor award ceremony for all of the students who took part in Scifest@GMIT over the summer. Students submitted science projects last May and they were judged during the summer. We enjoyed a large amount of success, with 9 awards won by PCH projects.
1st Place Intermediate Technology: Anna Cooper
3rd Place Intermediate Technology: Elana Monaghan and Ella Cook
3rd Place Senior Life Sciences: Luke Mulligan and Paddy Toman
1st Place Senior Physical Sciences: Lauren Price and Sinead Kavanagh
Two other projects had particular success at the competition. Anna Cooper won the Boston Scientific prize. Her project involved an analysis and comparison of blood glucose monitors and sensors for people with type 1 diabetes. Anna found that the lag in continuous monitors can potentially put those with type 1 diabetes at risk. She developed a communication protocol that could be used to communicate between sensors and insulin pumps. Her project was selected by judges at Boston Scientific to go forward to the national final in November.
Jonathan Flanagan claimed the Institute of Physics prize and the second place prize overall. Jonathan built and calibrated a device for analysing the spectra of different light sources. He used the device to compare sunlight and moonlight. He then used this evidence to show that in moonlight, things appear more blue than in daylight because of how the eye acts in low light. Since Jonathan claimed second place in the GMIT competition, his project was also selected for the national final in November.
This now means that PCH has two projects in the national final of the competition, which is impressive given the fact that only around 60 projects compete in the final. Well done to all students involved and many thanks to all the teachers in the science department, particularly Ms. Halleran, Ms. Hannify, and Mr. Toner who mentored the students as they developed their projects.
