COUNTY Limerick student Conor Foy has made huge ripples at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles after winning first prize for a device to improve performance times for rowing crews.
Conor, a fifth year student at Coláiste Chiaráin, has scooped the top prize of $2,500 in mechanical and experimental engineering at Intel ISEF 2014 with his project.
The world’s largest international pre-college science competition, it provides an annual forum for more than 1,700 high school students from over 70 countries to showcase their independent research and compete for more than $5 million in awards.
Millions of students worldwide compete each year in local and school-sponsored science fairs, from which the best win the opportunity to attend Intel ISEF. Seventeen year old Conor from Crecora secured his place at the prestigious competition after developing a system that can measure, display, transmit and record the timing difference between, and the force exerted by, a crew of rowers.
Conor’s system is unique in that it looks at the timing of the oar and the force of each individual stroke, and not just the movement of the seat. This system is expected to improve the performance of rowing crews as it allows a greater synchronicity amongst the rowers.
Conor travelled to Los Angeles for the competition with his teacher Edel Farrell.
Principal of Coláiste Chiaráin, Noel Malone, expressed his immense pride and awe at such an outstanding achievement.
“Conor is a lovely lad and is very popular in the school,” said Mr Malone.
“We were all very hopeful that his wonderful project would be recognised for its sheer ingenuity and brilliance. We are grateful to Intel Ireland for showing such faith in Conor and their decision to send him to LA has now been amply justified. We are all so proud of him,” he concluded.
