2009 Press Releases
Tralee Students are Top Inventors!
12.05.2009
“Inventors Grow in Schools” is the title of an initiative aimed at stimulating interest in university for second-level students.
12.05.2009
“Inventors Grow in Schools” is the title of an initiative aimed at stimulating interest in university for second-level students.
The initiative organised by John McSweeney, Innovation Facilitator & Outreach Project Manager, UCC Plus+, Access Department, UCC seeks to show Transition Year secondary school students how systematic thinking and technical skills can be deployed to solve everyday problems and generate product ideas. The students then compete for the AIB sponsored TRIZ Cup for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
TRIZ (the theory of inventive problem solving) is a unique, systematic approach for developing globally competitive innovations. Each group of students was taught the basic principles of TRIZ which they then applied to invent new product ideas.
This is the sixth year of the competition and the area of interest for these young inventors was very much eco innovation. Strong presentations from Kinsale Community School and Terence McSwiney Community College were beaten at the post by Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee. John Prendergast presented the team's innovation of an eco friendly fridge which used no electricity, just simple chemistry, to freeze food. The invention showcased the students' social conscience by demonstrating how the fridge could be applied to remote or famine ridden areas where no electric power is available.
A special award was presented to Louise O’Donnell from North Presentation in recognition of her outstanding ability in the area of Science and Engineering. This award was a memorial to Fernanda Oliveira, Process and Chemical Engineering, UCC who not only helped launch this programme but also encouraged female students to explore science and engineering as a career choice. UCC’s Head of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick led the judging team and said these young business innovators brought great hope as they tackled global environmental issues with profitable and social responsible innovations.
Sixteen schools where involved in the competition and entries came from: Bishopstown Community School, Carrignafoy Cobh Community College, Causeway Comprehensive School, Co. Kerry, Coláiste Mhuire Buttevant, Deerpark CBS, Kinsale Community School, St. Vincents, Killarney Community School, Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee, Mount St. Michael Rosscarbery, Nagle Community School, North Monastery, North Presentation Secondary School, Rossa College Skibbereen, St. Coleman Midleton, Terence McSwiney Community College.
Picture shows: Winning team, Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
1087MMcS
TRIZ (the theory of inventive problem solving) is a unique, systematic approach for developing globally competitive innovations. Each group of students was taught the basic principles of TRIZ which they then applied to invent new product ideas.
This is the sixth year of the competition and the area of interest for these young inventors was very much eco innovation. Strong presentations from Kinsale Community School and Terence McSwiney Community College were beaten at the post by Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee. John Prendergast presented the team's innovation of an eco friendly fridge which used no electricity, just simple chemistry, to freeze food. The invention showcased the students' social conscience by demonstrating how the fridge could be applied to remote or famine ridden areas where no electric power is available.
A special award was presented to Louise O’Donnell from North Presentation in recognition of her outstanding ability in the area of Science and Engineering. This award was a memorial to Fernanda Oliveira, Process and Chemical Engineering, UCC who not only helped launch this programme but also encouraged female students to explore science and engineering as a career choice. UCC’s Head of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick led the judging team and said these young business innovators brought great hope as they tackled global environmental issues with profitable and social responsible innovations.
Sixteen schools where involved in the competition and entries came from: Bishopstown Community School, Carrignafoy Cobh Community College, Causeway Comprehensive School, Co. Kerry, Coláiste Mhuire Buttevant, Deerpark CBS, Kinsale Community School, St. Vincents, Killarney Community School, Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee, Mount St. Michael Rosscarbery, Nagle Community School, North Monastery, North Presentation Secondary School, Rossa College Skibbereen, St. Coleman Midleton, Terence McSwiney Community College.
Picture shows: Winning team, Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
1087MMcS