Marine science-related projects were among those awarded at the 2019 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin yesterday (Friday 11 January).
Rachel Cotter and Jack Mullen, pupils of Coláiste Muire in Crosshaven, Co Cork, placed second in the intermediate group under the Biological & Ecological Sciences category for their project ‘From fish to fork – ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish off the Irish South Coast’.
The duo also took the Contest Unge Forskere award from Denmark’s young scientist competition for their fishery investigation.
Taking third place among senior individuals in the same category was Timothy McGrath of Killorglin Community College in Co Kerry , for his ‘systematic study into using halophyte species to develop a nutrient treatment biofilter to combat oceanic deadzones’.
Niamh Coffey, Claire Joy and Abby O’Leary of St Brigid’s Secondary School also in Co Kerry netted a display award for their investigation into the Presence of microplastics in freshwater lakes surrounding Killarney.
Full results of this year’s awards can be found on the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition website. The exhibition closes at Dublin’s RDS this evening (Saturday 12 January) and features many more marine-related projects, including an innovative lifejacket design that could make work easier for rescuers.