Clongowes student wins two awards at international science and engineering fair
SciFest national champion Jack Shannon from Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare, has won two awards at represented Ireland at Regeneron International Science Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, California.
Shanon came first in the environmental engineering category and also won the prestigious EUCYS award which earns the teenager an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Poland in September.
Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, involving some 1,700 students from over 67 countries and territories competing for a prize fund totalling $9 million.
Shanon secured his place at the international competition when he was named SciFest STEM Champion 2023 at the SciFest 2023 National Final last November. He claimed first prize for his project Ireland’s Carbon Sinks – Remote sensing for monitoring peatland restoration.
The study used remote sensing techniques for monitoring peatland restoration in Ireland.
Two distinct peatland sites, Clara bog and Keelbanada bog, were investigated to assess the effectiveness of multispectral, LiDAR, SAR, and InSAR analyses in tracking restoration progress and degradation. These methodologies supply regular and precise data on restoration progress and degradation areas, enhancing restoration planning and management.
The project underscored the potential of remote sensing techniques for monitoring peatland restoration or degradation at multiple scales, contributing to Ireland’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework by facilitating comprehensive assessments of progress towards restoration and carbon sequestration targets.
Shannon said: “This was a great opportunity to showcase my skills and creativity on a global stage and I am over the moon to have won two awards. Having worked so hard on my project, I’m delighted to have been able to meet with other students and see their projects. I’m so thankful to my family, friends, teachers and everyone at SciFest, who have supported me on this journey.”
Sheila Porter, SciFest founder and CEO added: “We are all very proud of Jack on his achievement in winning two top awards. Participating in Regeneron ISEF is a wonderful opportunity and I know Jack has really enjoyed the experience. SciFest is all about encouraging a love of science, technology, engineering and maths among young people. Jack has developed a truly innovative project and we are delighted that he has had the opportunity to bring it to an international audience. We wish him every success for the future.”
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