School Wins €11,000 Science Competition

The Saffron Science competition is held annually amongst Irish secondary schools, sponsored by eFlow and ITS Ireland.

In this competition students from varying classes and age groups are asked to come together and innovate and create scientific solutions for modern transport problems.  This year the first-year class team from Presentation Secondary School Thurles, who won bicycles for every member of the class, valued at €11,000.

This year, students were asked to create a video showing how they would encourage their fellow classmates and the local community to travel more actively. This is travelling that is only using your own energy, like walking or biking it to work, school, home etc.

239 schools entered this year, but due to restrictions brought on by the pandemic, only 51 schools were able to provide finalised projects. Thurles school’s winning submission clearly showed what is preventing active travelling in their area, such as carrying an 8kg school bag, no bicycle parking and pothole presence.

They also detailed how to solve these issues, contacting their local county council, reducing the weight of bags by managing the load better, starting a bicycle course, investing in smark bike tech and focusing on promoting local tourism spots that are accessible via active travelling. The winning team was also congratulated in a video from the Minister of Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD during the awards ceremony of the event.

Science Competition Winners

Ryan noted that “usually the Saffron prize means everyone heads off to Brussels to the European space museum, but unfortunately we can’t travel this year.” He also said, “but the good news is everyone in the class is going to get a bike instead, and I think actually that might be a better outcome”.

Ryan finished by saying “you set a really good example, some of the ideas you set out, I’ll talk to Tipperary council to see can we put them into force, to make it easier, safer and healthier and more social to get to and from school by bike.”

The event was sponsored by eFlow, a toll solutions provider and M50 operator, for its fourth consecutive year.

Darren McGivney, Digital Marketing Officer with eFlow, said: “We are delighted with our sponsorship of the Saffron Science Competition as it is a great initiative to encourage students to think about science, which is evident in the passion and creativity they all illustrated in their ideas. Congratulations again to the winning team from Presentation Secondary School Thurles.”