Scifest - AVS student’s research into antimicrobial surfaces bags top prize

Ciara Cannon won the overall competition and will represent the county at regional level

placeholder image — Ciara Cannon won the overall competition and will represent the county at regional level

Her exciting research has the potential to make hospitals and implants much safer in a self-sustaining way

AVS student Ciara Cannon was crowned overall winner of Scifest Donegal for her innovative project ‘Using silica nanoparticles to create self sustaining antimicrobial surface coatings.’

Scifest took place in ATU Donegal on Wednesday and was attended by students from all over the county.

Ciara has previously been runner up in her category at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition for her research into antimicrobial nanoparticles. Her current project is the result of her developing her research into self-sustaining antimicrobial surface coatings even further.

A keen physicist, the Fifth Year student uses silica nanoparticles to create the self-sustaining antimicrobial surface coatings.

She believes this research could help make medical implants significantly safer, and that it also has a role in preventing the spread of infection and reducing cross contamination in hospitals.

Her findings were not only useful but also raised some interesting questions, leading her into even deeper research.

“I would really like to study this even further, given the opportunity,” said Ciara.

Her findings have come to the attention of Irish Aid due to the potential use in preventing infections in developing countries. Earlier this year, the organisation invited Ciara to present her findings at the Irish Aid showcase in Iveagh House, Dublin.

Her success at Scifest on Wednesday means that Ciara will now go on to represent the county at regional level in November.

With the dangers of hospital superbugs now well documented, Ciara’s research is tackling a life or death issue head on, and could benefit us all in the future.

A number of other AVS students showcased their projects at Scifest, with several receiving special awards.

Samaire Fern was the Winner of Communications Award for her project ‘What colour is pi? An analysis of patterns in the visible constructions of number sequences using colours observed by people with synesthesia’

Jack Hannigan won Irish Science Teachers Association award for his project on the Seasonal variation in the antimicrobial activity of native Irish seaweeds.

Michael Masterson won the Business Excellence Institute award for his project BAGS - Back Air Gravitational Support. This is Michael's second consecutive year winning this award.

Jane Faulkner, Amy McGroary and Robyn Given won the Smurfit Kappa Sustainability Award for their project ‘An investigation into the most effective household agents at preventing fungal mould on fruit’