St. Mary’s students win prizes at UCC Chemistry Festival

Four first year students from St. Mary’s Second-ary School, Mallow won prizes at the recent UCC Salters’ Festival of Chemistry. The Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry are an initiative of the Salters’ Institute. Their objective is to help promote an appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young. It is run in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry. The Festivals are one-day fun events held at universities throughout the UK and Ireland. They begin in late March and run through to mid-June. Salters’ Festivals provide the opportunity for enthusiastic young students to spend a day in a university department and to take part in practical chemistry activities which are fun!

Thirty-two schools from throughout the Munster region took part in the UCC leg of the Salters’ initiative which took place on Wednesday 9th May. St. Mary’s were represented by Sophie Caplice, Laura Crowley, Ella Fouhy and Aisling O’Sullivan. Each school was set two chemistry related challenges, the first challenge was set by the Salters’ Institute and the second challenge was set by UCC. The girls from St. Mary’s did extremely well to finish as one of three schools chosen to receive prizes as part of the university challenge. The girls had to display an advanced knowledge of acids and bases in order to place in the top three. As well as prizes the girls were given certificates of achievement for their participation.