CLARE has a strong representation as usual in this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition with 19 separate projects.

Many of the projects draw inspiration from the students’ local area, a philosophy drummed into his students over the years by Mary Immaculate Secondary School Lisdoonvarna science teacher John Simms.

“We believe very much in the principle that science should be local,” John told The Champion.

“We will never be going for the big super-duper, millionaire-style projects.

“We believe it’s very important for young people to have a love for and an interest in their own local area.”

The same can be said of the projects from St Joseph’s Spanish Point and St Joseph’s Community College Kilkee.

There is a wide spread of interest in the other projects and they can all be checked out here

Colaiste Muire students Anna Browne and Gemma Hannon watching Emma Cantillon carrying out a low level risk activity and collecting data for their BT Young Scientist investigation into the relationship between Risk and Happiness. Photograph by John Kelly

Jennifer Weston, Áine Jones and Aoibhin Cullen of Coláiste Muire, Ennis working on their BY Young Scientist project analysing the cleanliness of retainers with a bacterial analysis on treatment with different orthodontist prescribed and home-made retainer cleaning solutions. They are also designing and 3D printing a new retainer toothbrush. Photograph by John Kelly

CBS Ennistymon students Oisin Coughlan and James Blackwell have entered their new app in the BT Young Scientists & Technology Exhibition. According to Oisin their project is entitled ‘Nation Technology App’, and it provides information on the geography and demography of different nations of the earth. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Eoin Gilmartin and Jack Fairfield, of St Anne’s Community College Killaloe, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition investigates the effect of water temperature on the rate of degradation of plastics into micro plastics. Photograph by John Kelly

Liam Rynne, right, and Conor Neylon, first year students of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point, who, for their BT Young Scientist entry, are developing an app for first years coming into the school, to help them with the transition from primary to secondary school. Photograph by John Kelly

Teigan Hehir and Megan Downes of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point, whose project for the BT Young Scientist competition is entitled Pot Plants. They are investigating the benefits of using Limestone as a bed rock to grow plants. Photograph by John Kelly

Aine Bonfil, Ella Nagle, and Matylda Higgins, of St Josephs Community College Kilkee, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “The Future Of The Loop Head Peninsula”. They are investigating how the population has decreased and also looking to the future of the are. Photograph by John Kelly

Hana Haggag, Ava Walsh and Liam Ferguson, of St Josephs Community College Kilkee, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “Coastal Coverings”. They are investigating how to make face coverings from seaweed fibres. Photograph by John Kelly

Alanna Hayes of of Mary Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition investigates the best optimal path algorithm. Photograph by John Kelly

Michelle Callinan of Rice College Ennis, who, along with Luke Coffey (Missing from photo) is working on a BT Young Scientist entry entitled “A Comparative Investigation Of The Anti-microbial Effects of Elderberry. Photograph by John Kelly

Ella Campbell and Kim Forde of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “Predicting the spread of hazel scrub in the Burren” Photograph by John Kelly

Katie Woods and Emily Moloney of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “Investigating what kinds of soil worms like the most” Photograph by John Kelly

Oisin Jackson of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “An investigation into the effect of wind on tree shape” Photograph by John Kelly

Aisling Vaughan of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “How the farmers of North Clare see the future of Farming in their area” Photograph by John Kelly

Ciara McDonnell of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “An investigation into the level of microplastics on a number of beaches in the West of Ireland” Photograph by John Kelly

Alana Mc Kinnon of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “The effect of wind on leaf morphology on two species of tree in the Burren.” Photograph by John Kelly

Anna Mae O Driscoll of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, whose project for the BT Young Scientists competition is entitled “Does the Limestone in the Burren Keep it as Warm as People Say?” Photograph by John Kelly

Derry Lavendar-Duncan and Daniel Vaughan, students at CBS Ennistymon, are competing in the BT Young Scientists & Technology Exhibition with a fascinating mobile application which combines brain gaming and training. According to Daniel their interest in the technology developed from an interest in how computer games might affect the brain given that it has been claimed that games can impact on memory and cognitive function. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Cillian O’Sullivan and Fionn McMahon, students at CBS Ennistymon, who have developed a Local Tourist Guide App mapping their home town and featuring restaurants, cafés, bars and all the businesses and places of interest in the town. Photography by Eugene McCafferty