Student & Learner Success

Left: BT Young Scientists 2023

Students excelling in STEM in Castleisland Community College

Doreen Killington

Castleisland Community College students excelled this year in the area of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) with the outstanding success achieved by senior cycle students. Two students will be representing Ireland in the Youth Start European Entrepreneurship Award to be held in Austria in September 2023. The school had two projects shortlisted for the BT Young Scientist 2023 National Finals. Twenty senior cycle students received STEM certificates from MTU (Munster Technological University).

David Peskett and Shauna O’Keeffe became national winners at the Foróige Entrepreneurship Final 2022. As national finalists, they are now competing to become European Entrepreneurship Champions. The students designed an app, ‘Bright Mind,’ that allows students to communicate in confidence with their teacher during a lesson. It benefits an anxious, reserved student who is not inclined to share with their teacher during a class.

The first project for the BT Young Scientist was titled ‘You know what gets on my nerves… Multiple Sclerosis. The group consisted of four students- Bella Harmon, Katie Kerins, Amy McCarthy and Emma O’Donoghue.

The project investigated viral marketing and what form of media is best received by young people to spread awareness of MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Their research showed that short videos, reels and Tiktok are the best means to spread awareness among young people.

The second project undertaken by Caitríona Murphy was written entirely as Gaeilge. An tideal ar an tionscnamh ná ‘Anailís Staitistiúil ar Dhearcadh Déagóirí na hÉireann vs Déagóirí na Breataine Bige i Leith Foghlaim a dTeangacha Dúchais. (A Statistical Analysis on the Attitudes of Irish Teenagers vs Welsh Teenagers towards Learning Their Native Languages.) Her conclusion was to reduce the amount of literature for the new Junior Cycle Irish course and to place more emphasis on spoken Irish.

The STEM Passport for Inclusion Certificates were awarded to senior cycle students for participating in this MTU initiative. The project aims to encourage more girls to study STEM subjects. They now receive 50 bonus points for their CAO when applying for courses offered by MTU.