Richard O’Shea (18), a sixth-year student from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Blarney, Co Cork, has been named the winner of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2010.
Richard received the prestigious honour at the end of this year’s competition, for his project entitled “A biomass fired cooking stove for developing countries”.
Richard’s stove can be built using very simple materials such as tin cans and nails which are very easy to find in third world countries. The stove minimises the amount of fuel required and smoke produced, and involves very simple tools such as a Swiss army knife.
Richard made a strong impression on the judges with his detailed research into the chemical processes involved in burning timber, the various designs he came up with and the engineering skill he showed in his construction work.
Award presentation
The Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan, presented Richard with a cheque for €5,000 and a Waterford Crystal trophy.
Richard will go on to represent Ireland at the 21st European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Lisbon next September.
A total of 1,135 students took part in this year’s BT Young Scientist competition, with 509 projects from 32 counties across Ireland.
Kate Nolan (10) from Ranelagh, Dublin, takes a call from the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Conor Lenihan, on a "string telephone" at the Discover Primary Science stand at the BT Young Scientist exhibition.
Kate Nolan tries to lift a paper clip from a glass of water using a magnet, watched by Finola Dolan, Minister Conor Lenihan and Fiona Connelly at the Discover Primary Science stand.
The Minister with Peter Brabazon, Director of Discover Science & Engineering, at DSE's stand at the show, featuring a Formula 1 racing car. Photographs by Brendan Duffy.
