The BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition has long been a hotbed of innovation and a pointer to the future of how Irish schoolchildren are reacting to the changing world around them.
The 2012 event concluded at the weekend in the RDS and drew massive crowds to see what proved once again to be an eclectic and an inspiring mix of projects.
On a tour of the stands on Saturday I counted at least 30 projects directly related to sport, covering a wide range of interests.
Kealan McMahon from Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna had looked at a mathematical study of the correlation between the population of an area and the success of its local GAA team. He found that in the dominant sport within the county there was a very positive impact from population growth but that this was less marked in either hurling or football if they wet seen as the second sport.
Pupils from CBS Roscommon had developed a prototype protection bandage aimed at reducing the incidence of broken collar bones in sport. The project was inspired by one of them doing just that playing rugby but the result of their research could have greater impact across sports like horse racing where this is among the most common injuries.
The Olympics featured in a number of projects including that of Arklow Community College where Matthew O’Gorman and Reece Young sought to measure the impact of the games on participation in sport. One of the key findings was that boxing participation among 5-12 year olds had increased five fold in Arklow in the wake of Katie Tayor’s Gold medal and the success of the Irish team. Inspiring a Generation.
Adam Barrett and Ian Lawlor from Mount St Michael in Cork had developed a lower leg armour which they argue could be a replacement for the traditional combination of sock and shin guard while offering greater protection and no less flexibility.
Their were projects looking at home advantage in sports; arguing the basis that there should be an open draw in the GAA All Ireland Championships; the physiology and psychology behind the use of kinesiology tape; the lack of participation of teenage girls in sport; whether withdrawing from sport in an exam year helps improve marks (it doesn’t); and a great variety of other themes that would be of interest within the sporting and sports equipment sectors.
Perhaps when 2013 rolls around there will be a special category devoted to sporting projects. It would certainly be of interest and potentially be of value within the world of Irish sport.
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Sport to the fore in Young Science
