Thursday, January 5, 2012
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By JACQUELINE HOGGE
TWO Tuam schools will fly the flag for north Galway at next weekend’s BT Young
Scientist Exhibition, where students from St Jarlath’s
College and Presentation
College will compete for top honours.
Aoife Kelleher is a
Transition Year student at the Pres who has devoted time and energy in recent months to examining the effectiveness of anti-pimple agents against pimplecausing microorganisms.
With the help of her teacher Jane McAteer and the use of facilities at the
Department of Microbiology at NUI Galway, Aoife has put together an impressive project that will generate interest and discussion amongst her peers.
“I did a lot of research online before I developed a survey that I conducted among a sample of 100 students here in the school, to discover what products they were using, and how effective they rated them,” she said.
“But in order to conduct lab experiments on the products I had to approach
NUI Galway for the use of their laboratories, as the school doesn’t have the equipment I needed.
“Thankfully Dr Ger
Fleming in the Department of Microbiology agreed to let me use the labs at the weekends, and even offered to help me set up the different methods I needed to use to grow and then test the micro-organisms I grew as part of the project.
“Young people spend a lot of time and money using skincare products specifically designed to prevent pimples and looking at the ones I use myself, I decided to see if I could scientifically assess their effectiveness.
“I used eight products in the tests, three commercial, three natural and two controls and found that a product sold over the counter in most shops and chemists is, along with being one of the most popular, the most effective.
“I learnt a lot of new techniques from my time in
NUIG and that in itself was a brilliant experience, so I’m really looking forward to bringing my presentation to
Dublin to see how I get on in the intermediate section of the Biological and Ecological division.”
Aoife said her experience in recent weeks has encouraged her to pursue a scientific career.
RÓISÍN Ní THOMÁIN and Aidan Power will present the Young
Scientist Exhibition.
MEANWHILE, a young Galway woman is to take over presenting duties of this year’s exhibition. TG4 presenter
Róisín Ní Thomáin joins Aidan Power to cover the opening ceremony and the announcement of this year’s winning scientists.
Róisín, a primary school teacher, is a fluent Irish speaker and has been working in broadcasting for the past seven years.
She takes over from former Rose of Tralee Aoibhinn Ni
Shúilleabhain as co-presenter for this year’s event and says she is looking forward to her biggest career challenge yet.
“I’m really looking forward to the exhibition, learning the ropes and working alongside Aidan Power,” she said.
“This will be the biggest crowd I’ve ever played host to and
I’m excited to be part of such an important institution for our country’s young people.
“I’m honoured to be chosen this year and feel it’s vital we invest in young minds, especially in the current climate. I have seen the list of entries and I’m bowled over by the innovation and creativity of Ireland’s next wave of scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs!”
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2012 takes place from next Wednesday, January 11 to Saturday,
January 14, at the RDS Main Hall in Ballsbridge. The event is open to the public from Thursday to Saturday inclusive with doors opening at 9.30 am each morning.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE TUAM Transition Year student Aoife Kelleher used facilities at NUI Galwayto research her project. She is pictured in the school lab with her teacher Jane McAteer. Photo: Ray Ryan
“I am so grateful to Ger for his time and patience and for teaching me so much,” she said.
“Living organisms are all around us and this experience has definitely got me thinking that microbiology could be the area I choose to pursue at third level.”
Jane McAteer said there had been a record number of entries this year, which suggested that Aoife’s success in reaching the RDS showed the merits of her project.
“Aoife is a really industrious worker and fantastic student and this project is a credit to the hard work and determination she has shown bringing it all together over the past few months,” she said.
“We didn’t have the facilities to conduct the level of experiments necessary and we wouldn’t have been able to do her work justice, so she contacted NUI Galway
and they allowed her the use of their labs which has meant she’s been able to bring her work to its full potential.”
Dr Ger Fleming, lecturer with NUI Galway’s
Department of Microbiology said he thoroughly enjoyed working with Aoife whom he described as an exceptionally, bright and focused young student.
“She is the next generation of scientists and it’s very important the university fosters this young talent as it is the future.
“A young fresh mind is an open vessel for information and I was very interested when Aoife approached the
Department back in
September with her project.
It’s very topical and her research found that some preparations out there are not as effective as they claim to be.
“She grew microorganisms here in our labs, using three standard methods to test them and even the opportunity for her to see experiments through from start to finish, realising that often you don’t get the results you expect, was something wonderful for a girl her age.
“With any luck we’ll have her in here in a few years studying microbiology as she achieved so much over the six weeks she spent with us. I would hope it’s an area of study she will consider for the future.”
Meanwhile, two second year students at St Jarlath’s
College have been monitoring the life of the humble pine cone for their project which is also entered in the Biological and
Ecological section of this year’s competition.
Darren Coppinger and
Morgan Walsh Roberts have tested pinecones in four different environments; humid, dry, dark and light to determine if they open and close differently on and off the pine tree.
Teacher Clive Monaghan has been supervising the project, which marks the school’s return to the competition after a long absence in recent years.
“I’m not sure how long it’s been since the school has got to the RDS but I know it has been some time, so hopefully this project will mark the start of a new association for the school, where our science faculty is very strong,” said Clive.
“The boys’ project is a novel and original idea and I think that alone has got them to the final stages in
Dublin, so we’re going to represent the school over the next few days in what will hopefully be the start of a new era of BT Young
Scientists here.”
INDEPENDENT Councillor for the Oranmore Electoral Area
Jim Cuddy has slammed the decision by Galway Co Council to close their Lackagh Area Office next March.
“Over the last couple of years there has been a gradual depletion of office and outdoor staff assigned to the Lackagh
Office. As a result of this, residents of the Oranmore Electoral
Area have not been able to get an adequate service from this office and I am very disappointed at the decision to close the office completely as a cost saving measure.”
When the office closes, Oranmore will be the only Electoral
Area without a local office, he argues.
“I have been constantly trying to get additional funding from the Council for much needed road repairs in the locality and I am certain that the situation will only get worse when
Lackagh office closes. I understand that given the tough economic situation, difficult decisions have to be made, but I don’t believe that this decision was the right one.
“It will most certainly mean a reduction in services in the area, which is bad news for all residents and I am appealing to the Council to reverse this decision,” Cllr Cuddy concluded.
Resuming January 19th, 2012
1. All Sections of course covered
2. Notes Supplied
3. Sample answers given
4. Focus will be on exam questions
5. Questions given and corrected
Also Classes in
For details Phone (091) 637206 www.johnconneelyenglishclasses.com
Early booking advised as classes will be kept small.
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SECOND-YEAR students
Darren Coppinger and Morgan Walsh Roberts, pictured with their teacher Clive
Monaghan, will represent St
Jarlath's College at this year’s BT Young Scientist
Exhibition.
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