Primary school students seek water solutions at RDS science fair

More primary school students than ever before will participate this month in the RDS Primary Science Fair, with 120 school class projects going on display. And water has been a major theme for this year's research.

Students from St John the Baptist National School in Midleton, Co Cork, tried to make drinking water from the local river, while pupils from St Francis’s Boys’ School, Clara, Co Offaly, measured the safety of the public water supply.

The protest over water charges provided much of the inspiration for water projects, suggested Criona Morrin, the teacher for the Midleton students.

“They were inspired by the news as they didn’t really understand what it was all about,” she said.

They also came up with novel ideas to study. Pupils from St Laurence O’Toole’s CBS in Seville Place, Dublin, decided to discover whether the River Liffey or the Royal Canal were cleaner if you wanted to go for a swim.

The primary school fair runs during the annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which takes place from January 7th to 10th.

Energy and excitement

But when it comes to enthusiasm, energy and excitement there is nothing to compare with the fourth- to sixth-class pupils who participate.

Passing visitors are immediately ushered over for a look at the displays and to hear about what the pupils discovered. And the hard work of their teachers is immediately apparent as they assist on the stands.

Supporting the development of science and maths skills in primary schools is part of the RDS's foundation science and technology programme, said RDS chief executive Michael Duffy. And teachers report that aside from learning how to "work scientifically" the pupils develop literacy, oral language and numeracy skills through participation in the fair.

Entrance to the Young Scientist event also provides access to the Primary Science Fair. The primary fair runs on January 8th, 9th and 10th.