'Appetite for Knowledge' Science Communication Competition

11 Nov 2022

Congratulations to Presentation Secondary Mitchelstown students Avarose Moher, Ellalouise Burke, Orla Fogarty and Meadhbh Kenneally who were crowned winners of the “Appetite for Knowledge” science communication competition organised by the School of Food and Nurtirional Sciences, UCC.

The winning team’s project “Influencers vs Science”, explored whether social media influencers give good dietary advice and display a healthy balanced diet, if influencers genuinely care about their target audience, and if they qualified to give this advice. The students reported that more than half of teenagers are unsure if diets promoted by social media influencers are healthy and attainable, according to student-led research findings.

A total of 15 teams from nine secondary schools from all over County Cork took part Appetite for Knowledge, and topics presented included as ‘Fungi - how they can save the world and the human species’, ‘Sustainability of Food’, and Genetically Modified Organisms and the fight to end world hunger’.

The competition was judged by an external panel featuring subject experts and industry leaders including Dr. Majella O’Keeffe, Programme Director & Senior Lecturer MSc Human Nutrition & Dietetic UCC, George MacLeod, general manager of Dairygold Health & Nutrition, and Christopher Braganza, this year's winner of RTÉ Battle of the Food Trucks.

Science Communication

Appetite for Knowledge is a science communication forum for young people to explore and chat about food-nutritional-agricultural sciences through their chosen creative presentation styles, with the simple goal of sowing a seed of awareness, engagement and empowerment amongst the next generation. The competition was supported by Science Foundation Ireland and sponsored by Dairygold Health and Nutrition.

Professor Alan Kelly of UCC’s School of Food & Nutritional Sciences and author of “How Scientists Communicate” and “Molecules, Microbes and Meals”, who was MC at the event, said:

“The event was a phenomenal display of the budding young science communicators of tomorrow”.

Often, our relationship with food is constructed by our parents, family and peers, and these views can have an enormous effect on health and well-being throughout life. By engaging directly with school students, an audience that is often vulnerable to misinformation regarding healthy food and nutrition, this project has allowed them to explore views and expand their knowledge of this key area of daily life.

STEM Careers

This project is been highly supportive of creating positive awareness toward STEM career options. The Food industry is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, employing 56,000 people and worth +€11.5 billion annually to the economy.

This competition has been specifically designed to engage Transition Year students, by helping to support the core science curriculum and broadening young people’s exposure to food, nutritional and agricultural sciences. This competition provides students the opportunity for interactive, inquiry-based learning alongside their peers.

George MacLeod, general manager of Dairygold Health & Nutrition said:

“As one of the largest Dairy Cooperatives in Ireland with strong community ties within the Munster region, Dairygold Health & Nutrition are delighted to sponsor the Appetite for Knowledge program in conjunction with UCC, promoting exposure to education and career opportunities within the food, nutritional and agricultural sciences sectors.”