Pupils from St Patrick’s NS, Shercock, with their teacher Mrs Curtis.

Students showcase scientific curiosity at science event

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Pupils from St Patrick’s NS, Shercock, with their teacher Mrs Curtis.

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Pupils from St Hughs NS, Dowra with their teacher Mr Kenny and ESB Science Blast judge Megan Davy from Kainos.

Published: Fri 29 May 2026, 11:26 AM

Students and teachers from St Patrick’s NS, Shercock and St Hugh’s NS, Dowra, Co Cavan, took part in the ESB Science Blast showcase at ICC Belfast earlier this m onth.

The RDS-led initiative is a free and inclusive educational programme that empowers primary school pupils to design, carry out and present their own scientific investigations in a fun and engaging way.

At the event, pupils from St Patrick’s NS, Shercock showcased their project, ‘Which drink is most harmful to your teeth?, demonstrating how they tested ideas, refined their approach and developed solutions to their scientific question. Meanwhile, students from St Hugh’s NS, Dowra presented their investigation, ‘How does different coloured light affect the growth of hydroponically grown plants?’, sharing insights from their hands-on research and experimentation. Both presentations highlighted creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and practical learning in action, as pupils confidently explained their methods, findings and the scientific thinking behind their projects.

ESB Science Blast is one of Ireland’s largest STEM engagement programmes, now involving more than 17,000 students annually and surpassing 100,000 participants since its launch.