Mayo students shine bright at ESB Science Blast

OVER 500 projects from primary schools around the country, including three schools from Mayo, were showcased at this year’s sixth annual ESB Science Blast, the RDS Foundation’s flagship Science and Technology Programme.

ESB Science Blast is a STEM-focused educational programme involving whole classes investigating the science behind simple questions.

Pupils from Mayo showcased an experiment and discussed their investigation with a STEM expert (judge/moltóir). The judging was non-competitive and aimed at growing pupils' interest and passion for STEM.

Strong themes emerging from schools this year included climate change, biodiversity, the impact of fast fashion and questions related to physical and mental health.

Participating schools in Mayo included Ardagh National School, St. Attracta's National School, and Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, Cathair na Mairt. Their projects featured questions such as:

Fooling Me Fooling You; How can one sense Dis-'Air-up'- t our other senses and fool us time after time?

Why do Jamaicans excel at sprinting?

How often is Once in a Blue Moon?

An ndéanann an méid aer atá i liathróid difríocht?

Speaking at the event in RDS Simmonscourt, Niamh De Loughry, Deputy Chief Executive of the RDS Foundation, said: “It’s wonderful to see such a great turnout for our key Science and Technology Programme from primary schools across the length and breadth of Ireland, including Mayo. In developing ESB Science Blast we wanted an event that would be informative, inclusive and, above all, a really fun and engaging learning experience. I’ve really enjoyed meeting the children from all around the country and learning so much from the wild and wonderful projects that they’re showcasing here this week.”

Following the Dublin dates, ESB Science Blast will also take place in Limerick from May 21 to 23 and in Belfast on June 4.