It was a momentous week for Ramsgrange Community School as two groups represented the school at the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Transition Year students, Jonah Flynn, Aidan King and Noah Sommers Neary entered the competition with their project entitled Running Road Run off the Roads while fellow TY students, Muireann Barry, Jude Byrne and Holly Cassidy put forward their project When the Wind Blows, Where the plastic Go?. The six students had all attended the competition the previous year while they themselves were in 3rd year and after seeing the range of projects on display and in particular, the project of the group representing Ramsgrange Community School that were taking part in the competition, they were all inspired to partake with their own project.
The process for the two groups began at the end of 3rd year as they brainstormed ideas and identified potential projects and investigations. Jonah, Aidan and Noah knew they wanted to focus their project on the area of ecology and after brainstorming, researching potential ideas and consulting with their science teacher, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds, they decided on investigating the effects of road run-off on soils and plants as well as the remedial effects of plants. Their goal is to mitigate road run-off's effects on soil by using phytoremediation.
Through their investigation, they found that pollutant levels increased with road category: busier roads had higher pollutant concentrations than quieter roads and the forestry control area. They analysed soil pH, salt content, and heavy metal levels, and tested whether planting common sorrel could mitigate the effects of road runoff. Their results showed that planting common sorrel made the soil more acidic, indicating that it helped reduce pollutants in the soil.
The main takeaway was that they identified a method to mitigate road runoff and the various pollutants it contains, such as engine salts, heavy metals, and mineral residues. The use of native Irish plants can reduce the impact of these pollutants by absorbing heavy metals and mineral residues, and by balancing salt and pH levels to make the soil more acidic and, by extension, more suitable for plant growth. Using native species also ensures minimal impact on local biodiversity, as the plants are already part of the natural ecosystem.
Over the course of the three-day exhibition, the group was judged by Evelyn Doyle, current Head of the UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science; Richard O’Hanlon, Senior Inspector for Plant Science with the Department of Agriculture; and Colin Kelleher, biochemist and Keeper of the National Herbarium at the National Botanic Gardens. They received a Highly Commended award for their scientific research. The group plans to continue their research by increasing their sample size and intends to enter further competitions, such as SciFest in May.
After brainstorming issues of interest to them and under the guidance of their teacher, Ms. Rebecca Ryan, Muireann, Jude and Holly’s project focused on coastal pollution and the aim of their project was to investigate the effect of severe weather events, such as storms, on coastal pollution. Their research question is investigated, By how much does the quantity and type of litter items per 50 metres of shoreline change from 1 day before to 1 day after a named storm?
They carried out their research at Bannow Island Beach, Co. Wexford. The experiment was conducted one day before a storm, on the day of the storm, and one day after the storm. Litter was categorised into different types. Once the data collection was complete, the results were analysed and graphed, showing a significant increase in litter along the coastline after the storm, which supported their hypothesis. While the most common type of litter varied from day to day, fishing equipment was the most prevalent overall.
They now plan to continue and build on their research by developing practical solutions to this problem. Fishing equipment was found to be the most common type of litter by mass, making it a major contributor to water pollution. In response, they aim to develop biodegradable fishing gear, particularly fishing rope, made from natural materials. The group also plans to enter further competitions, such as SciFest in May.
The projects of the two groups sparked much interest over the competition where the students were chosen by Minister of Education, Hildagarde Naughton, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and numerous other TDs to discuss their research.
In addition to presenting and discussing their projects with judges and guests, the students had the opportunity to visit the projects of other competitors. Both groups cited meeting like-minded students and seeing the wide variety of research on display as highlights of the exhibition. They also attended a range of organised talks, including one by a Stripe co-founder, who won the competition 21 years ago and shared his advice and expertise with the participants.
Speaking to the two groups after the event, they were extremely grateful of their science teachers, as well as Ms. Alanna Roche who supported and guided them throughout the whole process. When asked what advice they would give to students wishing to partake in the competition themselves in the future, they placed a strong emphasis on the importance of time management and advised starting preparation for the project as early as possible. They also recommended choosing a topic of interest and most importantly, to enjoy the whole experience!
