SEAI INESPO Award

Sacred Heart Secondary School students pick up award for their research into LED street lights

Ellen Fitzgerald, Aoife Dolan and Niamh Nyhan, three students from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, received an Excellence in STEM Award at the SciFest@SFI Discover national final for their project which looked at the use of LED bulbs in street lights. Ellen, Aoife and Niamh were three of 15 students who went on to exhibit their 6 STEM projects at the national final and who competed for the SEAI INESPO (International Environment and Sustainability Project Olympiad) Award. The INESPO competition took place in parallel with the national final for the overall winners from the 15 regional SciFest science fairs which took place earlier in the year. The Clonakilty girls went on to win the award which was presented to them by Aoife Cannon, Education Programme Executive, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The students’ prize includes an all-expenses-paid trip, with their teacher, Claire Holland, to the Netherlands to represent Ireland at the INESPO competition next June.

Ellen, Aoife and Niamh with Aoife Cannon, SEAI

Upon discovering that there are an estimated 400,000 street lights in Ireland Ellen, Aoife and Niamh realised

that the cost of street lighting throughout the country must be very expensive. Realising that LED bulbs are much more energy efficient than the bulbs currently used in

street lamps they set out to design an LED bulb that could be screwed directly into the standard street lamp fitting. As well as being more energy efficient, the LED bulb has a much longer life expectancy, thus cutting down on checking and replacement costs.

“I was very impressed with the level of research demonstrated by all of the INESPO Award entries at SciFest 2014. We saw a number of great innovative ideas which will help us to become more energy efficient and sustainable in the years to come. I sincerely congratulate Ellen, Aoife and Niamh on their win and I know they will do us proud when they represent Ireland in the Netherlands next year.”

Aoife Cannon, Education Programme Executive, SEAI Dr Arlene O’Neill speaking at the awards Ceremony

“SciFest is a celebration of STEM and continues to go from strength to strength. I am encouraged to see so many innovative projects and in particular the level of research that has gone into each project. Initiatives like SciFest are important to help promote STEM among students because these fields hold great potential for the future prosperity of our economyandsociety. Itisuptous as parents, teachers and friends to guide our young people towards rewarding careers in these fascinating areas.”

Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government.