Cork students' Wonder Woman pose research attracts interest from Harvard

A Harvard Business School professor wants to collaborate with two Cork students and to interview them, having read an Irish Examiner article about the project they took to the BT Young Scientist Exhibition.

Liadh Ní Dhonnabháin and Ellie Ní Chadhla, both Transition Year students at Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, proved that assuming a ‘Wonder Woman-type’ power pose for two minutes — confident stance, taking up space with feet and elbow positioning — builds confidence and helps students keep a cool headin an exam.

Their project was inspired by a TED Talk they heard online given by Harvard-based social psychologist Amy Cuddy. She proved that power-posing for two minutes increased testosterone by 20% and decreased stress hormone cortisol by 25% — that adopting body language associated with power makes you feel more powerful.