National science award for Castlebar students

SECOND year science stuents from St. Joseph's Secondary School, Castlebar, have been announced as the overall winners in the National Saffron Science Competition for 2016.

A trip to the CERN Institute is now on the cards for the girls in January.

This year, entrants were asked to create a three-minute video around the question 'How science and technology can make managing transportation safer'. The girls focused on the vulnerable road user, the pedestrian (30 pedestrians killed to-date in 2016 on Irish roads) and developed a prototype of lights embedded in the ground at pedestrian crossings to enhance the safety of the pedestrian.

This competition aims to promote the practical application of science in secondary schools.

As part of the competition, students from across Ireland have been developing short films presenting their ideas for future travel - part of a European initiative that helps young people promote their skills and competencies.

The panel of judges from ITS Ireland and eFlow, sponsors of the competition, praised the quality of research, innovation and production of the winning entry.

The forward thinking students who claimed first place have won an astounding prize of a three-day class trip to the European Space Centre, Belgium, in January.