Longford primary schools scoop up STEMtacular awards

Science has been the tool that has propelled humanity forward since man first discovered fire.

It has been on hand to answer all the difficult questions: like what is time? Or does toast always land butter side down?

Last week such questions were probed as 500 primary school students gathered for the highly anticipated STEMtacular, powered by Analog Devices.

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This Young Scientist style event was a dynamic showcase of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that brought together schools from across Leitrim, Roscommon, Cavan, Longford, Sligo, Mayo, and Fermanagh.

At the centre of this hub of innovation and excitement were pupils from Scoil Bhríde Killasonna, Luca, Malacy, Sean and Sam, who's project “How do you solve a Rubik's cube” netted them the Institute of Physics ‘Physics’ Award.

The STEM projects tackled a wide range of intriguing questions: Does warming up before sport improve performance? Does living on a farm lead to a healthier lifestyle? And, perhaps most controversially, is cracking your fingers bad for you?

Each group was eager to explain their findings to a panel of esteemed judges from both industry and education, who engaged with the students, asking insightful questions and offering encouragement.

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While the students’ research projects were at the heart of the event, STEMtacular had much more to offer.

The Discovery Zone, an interactive area filled with 20 fascinating exhibits, gave the young attendees the chance to engage directly with a variety of STEM fields.

In the Discovery Zone, Analog Devices, the event's primary sponsor, set up an engaging series of interactive games.

The games allowed students to explore different aspects of STEM in a fun and hands-on way.

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These games helped bring the world of technology and innovation to life, sparking curiosity and excitement in the young minds that participated.

The event culminated in an awards ceremony, where students were recognised for their hard work and creativity.

The overall winner of the Analog Devices award was the project Magnetic Cars which stood out for its innovative approach and practical application.