BTYSE: New wearable tech one of four projects to make the cut at Limerick school

THIS year, students from Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom have been working on four projects for the BT Young Scientist competition.

From a wearable device alerting users when to wear sunscreen to making an aircraft invisible to radar chemical, the viability of micro-level wind generation and using a plasma globe to learn about electric and magnetic fields, the young scientists have covered an extensive range of topics.

With the help of their teacher, Edel Farrell, students Emily Ceban, Aiden Oscar, Sean O’Sullivan, Matthew Furlong and Caitlin Quain, have been working on their projects since September.

Speaking of her project, third-year young scientist, Emily Ceban, said: “I got this idea on accident. One day, I was playing with my own plasma ball at home and I realised that when I brought it close to one of my like touch sensitive LED lamps, it would turn on even though it was turned off.”

BTYSE: Students at Limerick school have the ‘ingredients’ to ‘make-up’ a great project

After investigating further, Emily brought it to school. “I showed a teacher, she told me about Maxwell's laws, and we try to demonstrate the Maxwell's law using a plasma ball,” she told the Limerick Leader / Limerick Live.

Ms Farrell who has been mentoring the students for a few months, commented: “I’ve been mentoring them all and helping out with their research and the practical work. We’ve had some successes over the years, and we’ve won some prizes. Students are very busy finishing the projects at the moment.”