Munster double at Young Scientist awards

It was a Munster one-two at the 54th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, with Simon Meehan from Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig, Cork, scooping the top prize, and a group from St Brendan’s College in Killarney taking the group award.

A stunned-looking Simon, a 15-year-old transition year student, won the top award for his project, entitled ‘Investigation into the Antimicrobial effects of both aerial and root parts of selected plants against Staphylococcus aureus’.

In addition to receiving the perpetual trophy and a cheque for €7,500, he will represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, which will be held in Dublin in September. He also landed an exclusive trip to Bletchley Park in the UK, the Second World War code-breaking centre.