January 12th, 2023
I was blown away by some of the projects from our Carlow Kilkenny students at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition this week, and evidently so were the judges!
I want to warmly congratulate the wonderful Naomi Picovici from St Leo's College Carlow, who took home not one, but two awards for her really excellent and important research on using locally sourced herbal treatments to combat Varroa mite infestation on Irish honey bees.
My congratulations too to Ódhran Maxwell and Carrie Byrne from Tullow Community School for their very compelling and timely study analysing the correlation between age and how we perceive online misinformation.
And well done too to Olivia Dunphy, Orla Walsh and Sophie McMahon from Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny, who received an award in the Health and Wellbeing category for their study on the effect of exercise and movement on academic performance.
Worthy winners all, and what an achievement it was for each of the projects that made it into the finals, including students from Castlecomer Community School, Loreto Secondary School, Coláiste Pobail OsraÃ, Scoil Aireagail, and my old school, St Kieran's in Kilkenny. Each study was engaging, timely and well-researched, and many were looking at nature restoration, rewilding, biodiversity protection, pollution and renewable energy, so it's clear the climate and biodiversity crises are at the forefront of these young people's minds.
Reason to be hopeful at the start of a new year!
