Teens improving the world
Students in Blackrock and Glanmire made waves at the recent SciFest@Teen-Turn.
Teen-Turn is an Irish non-profit organisation that provides teen girls with an opportunity to gain hands-on STEM experience and the support to acquire qualifications and jobs. SciFest is the largest second-level STEM fair programme in Ireland. It is hosted locally in schools and regionally in third-level colleges.
Three ambitious students from Ursuline College Blackrock Hannah Browne, Berfin Muhsinoglu and Izzy Morrish began their work during Teen-Turn Project Squad afterschool sessions and earned the title of runners-up in the Senior Science category of the competition. They have sparked important conversations about sustainable solutions for healthier learning environments with their innovative project exploring the impact of Peace Lily plants on reducing CO2 levels in classrooms.
Inspired by the widespread use of CO2 monitors during the Covid-19 pandemic and the school’s GeoDome horticulture program, the team set out to investigate how introducing Peace Lily plants could improve air quality in classrooms. Over three weeks, they placed CO2 monitors in seven classrooms, first measuring baseline levels and then introducing Peace Lily plants provided by Teen-Turn. The results? A 35% reduction in CO2 levels was observed, demonstrating the potential of this simple intervention to improve indoor air quality.
The team said: “We’re so proud of the discovery we made. This project not only deepened our appreciation for science, particularly biology and ecology, but also gave us the confidence to pursue further investigations. It’s exciting to think our findings could influence the Dept of Education to consider implementing plants in classrooms nationwide.”
The students credited Teen-Turn’s Project Squad sessions for providing invaluable guidance and resources.
Meanwhile Cork students Clodagh Hayes and Grainne Dinneen, participants in Teen-Turn’s Project Squad afterschool program at Loreto Fermoy under the mentorship of Lead Mentor and teacher Ciara Motherway, are taking on the challenge of reducing single-use plastics in agriculture with their innovative project Eco Sea Plastic. The girls were awarded third place in the Senior Science category at Scifest@Teen-Turn where after the 12 week program girls from all over Ireland pitched their projects to the judges.
Inspired by their farming backgrounds and the abundance of seaweed along Cork’s coastline, Clodagh and Grainne developed a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic for beef packaging.
They said: “We’ve noticed large amounts of plastic waste in the food and agricultural industries and wanted to create a solution.” Their project aims to utilise seaweed’s untapped potential as an eco-friendly resource while promoting sustainable agriculture. The journey to creating a viable seaweed-based plastic was not without its challenges.
“At the beginning, we struggled to achieve a flexible consistency. But we kept experimenting and didn’t give up. Now, we’re proud to have created a usable product.”
Clodagh and Grainne are now focused on refining their prototype based on feedback from Teen-Turn’s mentors. They are also exploring ways to raise awareness about their product among suppliers and farmers, believing it could benefit the environment and the meat industry’s reputation.
Teen-Turn’s Project Squad program supports young women in STEM by providing mentorship, resources, and a platform to develop their ideas.