Energy Production Project Wins Navan Students Prestigious Climate Award at SciFest Regional Finals
Two students from Navan have taken home the prestigious EirGrid Cleaner Climate Award at the SciFest@College 2024 regional competition at TU Dublin Blanchardstown recently.
Representing Loreto St Michael’s School in Navan, fourth year students, Niamh Kearns and Isobel Grimes- Merrigan impressed judges with their scientific research centred on investigating crystals effects for energy production. Their winning submission was selected from over 65 projects on show at the north Dublin campus event.
Over 130 students from 12 schools across Meath and Dublin came together with their second-level student peers and teachers to compete in the STEM fair showcasing projects on a range of topics from health and chemistry to renewable energy.
SciFest@College is a programme of STEM fairs for second-level students, taking place in 16 regional colleges across Ireland. Now in its 19th year, the SciFest programme is open to second-level students, with the aim of promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) education and providing a platform for students to present and display their scientific projects.
EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, partnered with SciFest to develop the EirGrid Cleaner Climate Award which celebrates second level students who research and design projects to address challenges posed by climate or energy focused issues.
Congratulating the winning entrants on their win, Claire Wallace, Interim Head of Strategy and Sustainability with EirGrid, said, “At EirGrid we are passionate about giving young people the opportunity to showcase their ambitious and solution-driven ideas to addressing climate change. A big congratulations to Niamh and Isobel on their award.
“Through our partnership with Scifest, EirGrid are proud to support the promotion of STEM subjects as the next generation is inspired to seek solutions to climate change and the energy transition.”
As a result of their successful project, Niamh and Isobel will now progress to the SciFest National Final in November, for a chance to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.