SciFest Ezine V O L U M E
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
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SciFest@Intel Special Edition
• SciFest 2012
Turning plastic into petrol wins SciFest@Intel
Closing date for receipt of entries to SciFest@College is 2 March 2012
Grand Award
• WIN AN IPOD SciFest Science Week 2011Crossword Competition. Closing date for receipt of entries is 28 Nov. 2011. The crossword is downloadable from the website www.scifest.ie • The dates and venues for SciFest@College 2012 are now available on the website www.scifest.ie
28/10/2011 Two
students,
Ruairí and
O’Neill E og ha n
Flynn
from
Blackwater Community
School,
Lismore,
Co.
Waterford picked up the top prize INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
at SciFest@Intel 2011
SciFest@ Intel Judges
2
Project Abstract: ‘Polyfuel – a novel solution to fuel shortages and disposal of ELPs’
2
SciFest@Intel Finalists
3
Robert Boyle Science Festival
4
SciFest 2012 Contact information
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for
technology
their
Ruairi O’Neill and Eoghan Flynn, Blackwater Community School, Lismore, Co. Waterford with Minister Ciarán Cannon TD
project, ‘Polyfuel – a
SciFet@Intel is an exhibi-
Kildare and to compete for
novel solution to fuel
tion of the winning projects
the grand award.
shortages and disposal
from 14 regional SciFest
In
of ELPs’.
Minister of
fairs which took place ear-
achievement at the 14 re-
State for Training and
lier this year at Institutes of
gional
Skills, Ciarán Cannon,
Technology
the
events each of the 33 stu-
TD presented the win-
country and the University
dents was presented with
ners with their prize - a
of Ulster, Derry.
an
trip to the International
tional final gives the win-
STEM medal by Minister
Science and Engineering
ning students an opportu-
Ciarán Cannon, TD.
Fair in Pittsburgh, Penn-
nity to showcase their pro-
Before the Grand Award
sylvania in May 2012,
jects at the Open Innova-
was announced Peter Bra-
where they will represent
tion Lab at Intel’s head-
bazon,
Ireland.
quarters in Leixlip, Co.
launched SciFest 2012.
around
The na-
recognition
of
their
SciFest@College
Intel
Excellence
DSE,
in
officially
PAGE
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SciFest@Intel Judges The projects were judged by a team of experts from enterprise, government and education
Technology
Physical Sciences
Finalists Tara O’Carroll, Aoife Sutton and Claire Shanahan, Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Life Sciences
Mr Leonard Hobbs (Chair)
Research Programs Manager, Intel Ireland
Dr Eamonn Cahill
Senior Research Officer, Office of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government
Mr Pádraig O'Connor
Process Engineer, Intel Ireland
Mr Tom Bolger
Discover Sensors Project, DSE
Dr Jennifer McKenna
EU Research Project Manager, Intel Ireland
Dr Sheila Gilheany
The Institute of Physics
Ms Maria Delaney
Quality Specialist/Project Coordinator, Abbott
Dr Joanne McDonald
SRI Group: Executive Search & Selection
Dr Marion Boland
Scientific Programme Manager SFI
Dr Sean Commins
Senior Psychology Lecturer, NUI, Maynooth
‘Polyfuel – a novel solution to fuel shortages and disposal of ELPs’ ‘Congratulations to all the finalists who exhibited at
Project Abstract by Ruairí O’Neill and Eoghan Flynn The overall aim of our study is to design a homemade, cheap and
SciFest@Intel. Each one was already a winner at
efficient apparatus which can convert end of life plastics (ELPs)
regional level.
into a usable fuel source, thereby solving problems associated with
For Eoghan and Ruairí
fuel shortages and disposal of these plastics. We used PE
the journey is only just beginning as they will
(polethylene) and PP (polypropylene) because they contain only
have the honour of
carbon and hydrogen. We started with an apparatus constructed
representing Ireland at
from tin containers, copper plumbing pipe and a 5 litre oil tin
next year’s International
‘reactor’ heated by a propane gas ring. Initial ‘burns’ were carried
Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh,
out with mixtures of PE and PP. Using heat alone to crack the plas-
Pennsylvania and I wish
tics could only produce a soft green wax, which was not useful.
them the best of luck for
Further research, testing and modification to the apparatus over a
that event.’ Sheila Porter SciFest Project Manager
number of months led to a modified apparatus with a reflux column filled with a bentonite catalyst. Burns with the catalyst produced a clear, golden liquid fuel – our polydiesel. This was tested for flash point, viscosity, weight of gravity, water content and chemical
SCIFEST
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analysis from a mass spectrometer (carried out at Waterford Institute of Technology). By comparison to other fuels, our poydiesel seems to share similar properties to petrol and thus is a viable fuel source. Not only have we proven that ELP fuel production can be done simply at home, we have also discovered the right mix of plastics and temperatures to make the best fuel possible. Our vision is that this technology could be used in both the developed and developing worlds to help combat fuel shortages and reduce the amount of ELPs sent to landfill.
SciFest@Intel Finalists Intel Best Project Award Winners SciFest@College 2011 Open Innovation Lab - Intel - 28 October 2011
SCIFEST
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SciFest@Intel Finalists IT/Venue
Students
School
Project Title
Teacher
AIT
Eva Barry Karen Garvey
Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, Co Westmeath
‘Predictive Input Touch System’
Orla Hanniffy
GMIT
Jack Boyle Shaun Monahan
St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
‘Universal Remote’
Brendan McHugh
LYIT
Lauren Teague Caroline Slevin
Loreto Grammar, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Prototype Design for Portable Agriculture Water Trough
Kevin Gallagher
IT Sligo
Callum Bashford Ryan McGrath Shane Moran
Coláiste Chomáin, Ros Dumhach, Co. Mhaigheo
g-crAPP science
Collette Nic Liaim
DkIT
Aislinn Begley Ciara O’Reilly
St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Gamma ray bursts and black hole formation – the search for fast rotating Wolf-Rayet stars
Helen Daly
ITB
Mariya Tahir Trina Dizodony Fariha Riaz
St. Joseph's College, Lucan, Co. Dublin
An investigation on determining the optimum boiling conditions needed to best retain the texture, appearance and taste of green beans using sensors and image processing software
Michelle Dunne
ITT
Stephanie Hanan Aoife Boyle Kate Ennis
St. Wolstan's Community School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
To test the free radical theory of aging and the counteracting effects of antioxidants
Karen O'Callaghan
North/ West
Cara Molloy Meagan Mc Clean Adele Cullen
St Mary's College, 35 Northland Road, Derry
Testing the Permeability of Laboratory safety Gloves
Ann Blanking
WIT
Eoghan Flynn Ruairi O'Neill
Blackwater Community School, Lismore, Co. Waterford
Polyfuel – a novel solution to fuel shortages and disposal of ELPs
David King
CIT
Sinead O'Riordan, Elizabeth Brockman Icke
Mount St. Michael Secondary School, Rosscarbery, Co. Cork
A feasibility study of rainwater harvesting
Alison O'Neill
DIT
Cathal Fagan Shane Boylan Carl Burke
St Davids CBS, Artane, Dublin 5
Amazing Rodents – An Investigation into the Correlation between Brain Size & Memory Function
Jennifer Dixon
IT Carlow
Lorraine Smith
Mountmellick Community School, Co. Laois
‘Smelly peas’ - A project on which farmyard manure is best for pea growth
Louise Gallagher
LIT
Aoife Sutton Tara O’Carroll Claire Shanahan
Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Multivitamin supplements and lambs
Pstricia O’Callaghan/ Emma Kavanagh
ITTralee
Laura Kennelly Clodagh Woods
Intermediate School, Killorglin, Co. Kerry
Food - 5 seconds on the floor, eat it or bin it
Joe Griffin
Robert Boyle Science Festival
Robert Boyle was born in Lismore Castle in 1627 and the inaugural Robert Boyle Science Festival was held in the magnificent Pugin Hall of Lismore Castle and the Lismore Heritage Centre on the 18 - 20 November 2011. http://www.robertboyle.ie In recognition of their achievement in SciFest@intel Eoghan and Ruairí were presented with certificates by IUPAC International President Professor Nicole J Moreau (France). For further information on SciFest please contact: Sheila Porter, SciFest Project Manager Email: sheilax.m.porter@intel.com or log on to www.scifest.ie Closing date for receipt of entries to SciFest@College 2012 is 2 March 2012
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