Loreto’s top STEM students need your help to make it to Finland
Photo - The team from Loreto College, teacher Robert Masterson with, from left, Ciara Mangan-Lynch, Niamh Dolan, Kara Mulcahy, Grace O’Sullivan and Méabh Killalea.
Olga Aughey
Robert Masterson and his TY students in Loreto College Mullingar have been participating in 3D printing classes this year.
The students entered a competition called Shaping Your Future in December and one of the groups won.
That same group have now made into the top 28 STEM projects as part of the StarT International Competition run by the LUMA centre in Finland.
They are the only group to get to this stage from Ireland. They are now in the public voting stage, and this is where Loreto needs the help of the public.
“In order to vote for the girls we need people to go to their youtube video and like the video itself on youtube,” Brian told the Westmeath Examiner.
Viewing the video is not enough, however.
“In order to get to the final round people need to like the video,” said Brian.
“If the students get enough likes, their project will qualify for the finals in Espoo, Finland in June.”
Since September, the 25 TY students in Loreto College Mullingar have been participating in 3D printing classes with their teacher Robert Masterson.
During the classes students have learned how to graphically design 3D objects and models using the online software tool Tinkercad.
They have also been learning how to slice their designs to prepare them for 3D printing using the printer the school received last summer.
The students participated in an outreach educational programme called ‘Shaping Your Future’, which was run in conjunction with IMR and I-Form and funded by the Science Foundation of Ireland.
Three other midlands secondary schools participated in the programme. During the programme there was a competition between students in all the participating schools to design a 3D object that would help those with a disability or illness.
The Keyzy group from Loreto – Ciara Mangan Lynch, Meabh Killalea, Grace O’Sullivan, Niamh Dolan and Kara Mulcahy supported by teacher Mr Masterson won with their key aid design.
They are one of only 28 groups from around the world to be chosen and are the only team from Ireland to advance to this stage.
THEY NEED YOUR HELP
In order to progress to the finals in Finland in June, they need you to click on the attached link and like their YouTube video. The more likes they get on YouTube, the greater chance they have of making it to the final.
“Please support the girls and show the world that Loreto College Mullingar is leading the way in promoting STEM for young women!” said Mr Masterson.