Press Release
Limerick Institute of Technology

SciFest@LIT reveals the science behind an alternative treatment for mastitis!

~ 210 second level students from all over Limerick and the Mid-west take science to the next level at SciFest@LIT

8th May 2012 – 210 second level students from all over the Mid-west including Limerick city and county showcased their impressive scientific discoveries and explorations at SciFest@LIT on Wednesday May 2nd, part of a series of one-day science fairs that will take place this year at Institutes of Technology across the country. Almost 100 science projects were displayed at SciFest@LIT with the students delving into a range of investigations - the results of which are bound to raise a few eyebrows.

For instance, studies into whether technology is taking over our lives, how much bacteria is on make-up, how phosphates have affected pollution levels in Lough Derg, self-sanitising handles, how attentiveness is affected by age, were just a sample of the topics investigated. And with energy conservation on everyone's mind, a student from Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh designed a simple motor clothes line.

SciFest is a series of one day science fairs funded by Intel Ireland and Discover Science and Engineering as project partners and hosted nationwide by the Institutes of Technology and the University of Ulster.

Two students from St Mary's Secondary School, Charleville, Maeve Mulcahy and Mairead O'Donnell were the overall winners of SciFest@LIT for their project "Is a domestic cream a safer remedy for curing mastitis in dairy cows than antibiotics?" A study into how sudocrem® can heal mastitis was conducted, scientifically comparing it with traditional antibiotic treatments.

Other interesting investigations that were showcased at SciFest @ LIT included:

• CBS Ennistymon student, Michael McInerney, won the NCE-MSTL award for best project using maths, for his investigation 'How many triangles can you see?'
• Ciara Olsthoorn and Jenny Mullins of Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh won the Discover Sensors Award for their project 'Acid & Base = reaction race'.

Paschal Meehan, Head of the School of Science Engineering and IT, in LIT welcomed the students and their teachers saying; "It is wonderful to see how this competition has grown year by year. SciFest allows students to become actively engaged in a hands-on manner and seeing the projects here today highlights the exceptional talent and skills of our future generation. Great credit is due to their teacher mentors for encouraging their interest in these subjects."

LIT SciFest coordinator Marie Walsh said; "SciFest@LIT encourages students of varying abilities to develop an interest in science through the investigation of interests and activities from their everyday lives. Students are given an opportunity to develop research skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, presentation and teamwork. While doing so they also are given an insight into the excellent facilities and courses available to them in Limerick Institute of Technology. We are also grateful for the support of local industries, Roche, Beckman Coulter, Cook Medical and Limerick County Council Environment Department, who recognise the value of supporting initiatives like this to promote science and technology."

Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager, said, "SciFest is a fun and exciting way to encourage an interest in science at school level. I would like to thank all of our partners including Intel, Discover Science and Engineering, BT, Abbott Ireland, PharmaChemical Ireland, SEAI and all the Institutes of Technology. Without their support, none of this would be possible."

Please see www.scifest.ie for further information.

List of Prizewinners (PDF)

Photos from the event (PDF)