12-05-2025
‘Incredibly proud' – North Kerry school is delighted as trio bag prestigious award at SciFest
Up against 108 other worthy and impressive projects and with just 15 awards up for grabs, students Luke Fealey, Darragh Keane, and Eric Sheehy had their work cut out for them to take home the prize but they well and truly rose to the occasion with their innovative project, titled Fall for Science: Tracking Gravity with Smart Tech.
Judges at SciFest were particularly impressed by the trio's exceptional communication skills, presentation, and scientific methodology. The project utilized smartphone sensors through the Phyphox app to measure free-fall times, allowing for an accurate calculation of gravitational acceleration.
Initially, a balloon and a stand were used, but in pursuit of enhanced precision, the students went one step further and developed a custom 3D-printed release mechanism to ensure controlled drop conditions. By exploring the intersections of physics, engineering, and technology, the project not only fostered creativity but also sharpened problem-solving skills.
The primary aim was to quantify gravitational acceleration by analyzing free-fall times, investigating the correlation between height and time, and contrasting our experimental results with theoretical expectations. This project is sure to captivate anyone with a passion for science and technology.
Speaking to The Kerryman after the award win, Principal Iseult Glynn said that she and rest of the school's staff and students were 'incredibly proud' of the boy's achievement and that it would not have been possible without the support and of the boy's teachers Ms O'Reilly and Mr Shanahan.
'We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to their teachers, Ms. O'Reilly & Mr. Shanahan for their amazing guidance and support for the boys over the last few weeks and months,' she said.
