As this year's Young Scientist Exhibition opened its doors at the RDS on Wednesday 10th January, a very special event was taking place at St. Mary’s Academy CBS, Carlow.
At the Opening Ceremony in the RDS, as President Michael D. Higgins was talking about sustainable development and referring to the development of the Young Scientist model in Tanzania and Kenya, two students from St. Jude’s Secondary School in Arusha, Tanzania were presenting Ms Ahern, Principal of St. Mary’s Academy - CBS Carlow with gifts from their country, symbolising aspects of life in Tanzania and reflecting the partnership between the school and Tanzania.
The two students, Prosper Gasper and Erick Simon won the 2017 Young Scientists Tanzania (YST) and part of their prize included attending the Irish Young Scientist Exhibition. The project that won them the top prize was 'The development of a mobile phone smoke alarm'.
The Tanzania delegation dropped by the school to show their appreciation to teacher Mr Clowry for his great work in bringing the Young Scientist model to Tanzania and the school for promoting development education and supporting his work and the Tanzania students also met the schools Concern Debating Team.
For Prosper and Erick it's their first time to leave Africa. Principal Ms Ahern told the students that they were visiting a school that had a great tradition in promoting sustainable development and the whole school were proud that one of its teachers had played such a great role in bringing this great Science for Development Young Scientist model to their country and eventually beyond.
Ms Ahern noted that combining the Young Scientist model with an extensive mentoring Science Outreach Programme was an extremely innovative idea and one she felt could be used by any developing country. She was proud of the role the school had played in this great achievement and one that resonated with the ethos of Edmund Rice.