Chalk Talk: Dunderry pupils showcase their innovative project at Young Scientist and Technology Expo
Aishling Monaghan
Fifth-class pupils from Dunderry National School, Co. Meath have been showcasing their innovative project, From Blood to Boba: Exploring Coagulation and Spherification, at the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.
Led by their teacher David O’Connor, the class has spent recent weeks exploring the science of spherification - a food chemistry technique used in molecular gastronomy to transform liquids into soft, gel-coated spheres, often referred to as “popping boba.” Using everyday drinks such as cola, iced tea, lemonade and fruit beverages, the pupils experimented with sodium alginate and calcium chloride, learning how careful measuring, de-carbonating fizzy drinks, removing air bubbles and adjusting concentrations all influence chemical reactions.
The project goes beyond food science, however. The pupils also investigated how the same chemical principles underpin a vital biological process: blood clotting. Just as calcium causes sodium alginate to form a gel membrane around liquid to create boba, calcium in the human body plays a crucial role in helping blood change from a liquid into a semi-solid clot to stop bleeding. This comparison allowed the children to connect chemistry and biology in a practical, memorable way, reinforcing how science applies both in everyday life and within the human body.
While the class also explored reverse spherification, including attempts to create yoghurt “ravioli” these trials became valuable lessons in problem-solving and refining experimental methods.
Ultimately, the focus centred on mastering direct spherification as a clear, safe and visual model for understanding coagulation.
The Dunderry pupils are among 60 primary school projects featured at the Primary Science Fair, which runs alongside the main Young Scientist competition and aims to foster a lifelong interest in STEM among third- to sixth-class students nationwide. Their work also drew special attention during the exhibition when Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison paid an extended visit to the Primary Science Fair, spending time engaging with the Dunderry students about their project.
During his visit to the exhibition, Collison toured the floor, met participants across all five competition categories, and took part in a live student Q&A session. He also met international students from Kenya and Jordan, who travelled to Dublin after winning national competitions in their home countries.
Speaking to students, Collison reflected on his own experience attending the exhibition more than two decades ago, praising the standard of work on display and encouraging young people to nurture their curiosity and pursue the ideas that inspire them most.
Across the exhibition, projects address a wide range of topics, from environmental sustainability and space science to emerging technologies such as wearable AI for early disease detection. More than 200 prizes will be awarded, with the overall winner receiving €7,500 and the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.
The Dunderry pupils are now eagerly looking forward to presenting their experiments, displays and interactive demonstrations at the RDS Primary Science Fair, where they hope to share their enthusiasm for science with students from across the country.
Photo caption: Isabel Murray, Annie O'Brien, Ollie Duffy, Layton Smyth, Adam Stephens, Luke Comaskey, Leon Clarke Dunne, Bonnie Connaghan, Sadie Mahon, Leah Hudson, Katie Fee, Darragh Coogan representing Dunderry National School, Co. Meath
See full coverage of how our local schools got on at the Stripe YSTE in Tuesday's paper!