Three Westmeath students win big at Scifest competition
Three Westmeath students have managed to secure the top prize at SciFest, one of Ireland’s largest regional science fairs for second-level students, held recently at TUS Athlone campus.
TY students at Moate Community School (MCS), Dara Shortall, Dean Burns and Eoin Murphy took home the coveted ‘Best Project Overall’ award for their innovative research into the use of buffer strips to increase biodiversity and water quality in grassland.
The trio, who also won the Regeneron ‘Life Sciences Award’ and came first in the ‘Intermediate Life Sciences Group Category’ award, will now go on to compete against other regional SciFest winners at the national finals this November.
If successful there, the MCS students will win an all-expenses paid trip to Dallas, Texas, to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in 2023.
Accepting the award on behalf of the group, Dara Shortall acknowledged the support of his school and teacher, Mairead Cusack, and said he was “thrilled” with the result.
The TY student, who lives on a dairy farm, explained how their research could improve the quality of Irish waterways by tackling fertilizer run-off, which can decrease water oxygen levels and lead to dead zones.
“Our project aims to solve this problem by planting a two-meter buffer strip along the edge of waterways on grassland with plants that will absorb nutrients more efficiently from fertilizer before they can reach the waterway. If these nutrients are let run-off into waterways it can lead to eutrophication, which can lead to fish deaths.”
To create the buffer strips - a protective zone between a farm and a waterway intended to protect water quality - the trio researched various plant species species, trialing out mustard, radish, phacelia and grass, before settling on a mixture of phacelia and black oak seed.
The TY students were among 200 students from 12 secondary schools across the midlands to compete in this year’s competition, showcasing their passion for and knowledge of science, engineering, technology and maths.
Over 94 projects were on display, with students presenting on an array of scientific topics such as neuroplasticity, climate change, sustainable packaging, the impact of diet on speed and endurance, how caffeine affects cycling performance and the impact of music on cows’ temperaments.
Co-ordinator of SciFest at TUS in Athlone, Dr Noreen Morris said, “As always, the projects entered by the students in SciFest are impressive, engaging and thought-provoking. Secondary school students from across the region demonstrated their passion for STEM, which was clearly evident from the high standard of research that went into this year’s entries. SciFest is a competition that aims to encourage students to develop an interest in STEM, while prioritising inclusivity and inquiry-based learning, and it is a competition we are very proud to support”.
SciFest CEO and founder, Sheila Porter, added, “We received a tremendous number of entries again this year and the standard was as high as we’ve come to expect from SciFest participants. At SciFest, our goal is to encourage a love for STEM subjects from an early age, so it is really heartening to receive so many high-quality entries.”
In total, MCS students were awarded eight major awards, including the ‘Best Project Overall’.
Last year’s overall winner at Scifest in TUS Athlone Clare Reidy from Our Lady’s Bower, went on to be named SciFest STEM Champion 2021 for her innovative research project which investigated effective building materials for future exploration of Mars.
Clare will represent Ireland at Regeneron ISEF in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, next month.