Healthcare dominates research for Young Scientist exhibition

Science: A healthy dose of medically relevant research will be on display at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin later this month.

Investigations into diet and disease are just some of the many health-related contributions from budding scientists all over the State.

The exhibition, which runs from January 10th to 14th in the RDS, will showcase 500 of the record 1,152 entries received from 31 counties this year.

Catrina Sheridan, marketing director of BT Ireland, says a large number of the projects reflect topical issues in health, and she welcomes the high levels of awareness among teenagers of subjects such as alcohol abuse, MRSA and obesity.

Indeed, media coverage of rising obesity levels is one reason why Andrew Barry (13), a second-year student at Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig, Co Cork, surveyed fellow students about attitudes towards food and exercise. He also tested the fat content of various foods and says his research has led him to make healthier food choices now.

Caffeine was also up for scrutiny. Karen Corrigan, Caoimhe Walsh and Aoife Quinn, transition-year students at Maynooth Post-Primary School, Co Kildare, investigated hidden caffeine in our diet. With help from the Department of Chemistry at NUI Maynooth, they measured levels of the stimulant in coffee and cola drinks and examined daily caffeine intake.

Other projects focused on specific medical conditions. Kate Buckley (16) and Adrienne Keogh (15) from St Wolstan's Community School in Celbridge, Co Kildare, are asking why asthma and eczema often occur together.

They surveyed the prevalence of the two conditions among their peers and researched possible links, including the body's own protective mechanisms, which can inflame the skin or airways.

For transition-year student Dearbhail O'Crowley (15), entering the competition has fulfilled a long-held wish. Her project looks at lifestyle factors that can contribute to osteoporosis, which she considers a topical issue.

O'Crowley, who attends St Gerard's School in Bray, Co Wicklow, sent 1,200 questionnaires to girls aged eight to 18 at schools in her area to estimate their dietary intake of calcium and their engagement in weight-bearing exercise, both of which can influence the onset of osteoporosis.

"Ninety per cent of your bone base is made up by the time you turn 18," she says, explaining the importance of looking at that age group in her study.

O'Crowley says the results so far indicate that dietary calcium deficiency is an issue among younger girls, but, more positively, many take the recommended 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise per day to build bone mass.

The study also estimates the burden that rising levels of osteoporosis will cost the healthcare system in the future.

Her work for the exhibition has changed her own awareness of the need for calcium and she now has a better appreciation of what's involved in scientific research. "It makes you realise the amount of effort that goes into coming up with anything that's in the science books," she says.

Previous winners of the competition have gone on to make contributions to health, medicine and biotechnology, according to Sheridan from BT, who chairs the judging panel of 70 academics.

She praises the efforts of participants, teachers and judges, who give of their free time. "The ambition is about driving the science and technology agenda in Ireland and to encourage kids at a very early age to showcase their talent and creativity in this area," she says.

She adds that BT will subsidise a healthy lunch option for participants at the RDS as part of its sponsorship. "It's a hectic four days but it's a fantastic buzz."

u The 42nd BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition takes place from January 10th to 14th at the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Doors open to the public from Thursday, 12th to Saturday, 14th inclusive.

For more information, visit www.btyoungscientist.ie or call 1800 924 362 or, from Northern Ireland, 0800 917 1297.