A second-level student wowed the judges at the TUS Athlone SciFest with an invention that makes taking medicine easier for people who have hand-mobility issues.
Ronan Lyons, from Lanesboro Community College, Co. Longford, won the regional competition – held at the Athlone campus of Technological University of the Shannon – on Wednesday.
The title of his project was CAPILL – Compliance Aid Promoting Independent Living Long-Term.
Ronan described the project as “a four-levelled dispenser that used a series of stepper motors to drop medication into an ergonomic cup that is presented when the patient’s fingerprint is scanned”.
In his written abstract, as part of his entry, he wrote: “This compliance aid will make taking medicines easier and safer for the estimated 460,000 people in Ireland that suffer from conditions that have a large effect on hand mobility, such as rheumatism, arthritis and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease.
“Most readily available blister packages and compliance aids require fine motor skills to remove the tablets from their packaging.
“I plan to make medicine compliance easier with my dispenser CAPILL as it drops the medicines into a specially designed ergonomic cup.”
Ronan thanked those who worked with him on the project including staff from the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics at TUS.
The overall winning school on the day was Marist College, Athlone, who were presented with a special bog oak award by the President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane.
Among the students representing the Marist were Liam McCormack and Adam Martin who made a model flip-up flip-down cattle feeding trough.
SciFest, founded in 2006, is a celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education.
Congratulating the winners on their success, TUS Athlone SciFest co-ordinator Dr Noreen Morris said: “Every year, I am continually impressed by the remarkable standard of research displayed in the entries, and this year is certainly no exception.
“The quality of research conducted by second-level students truly showcases their unwavering passion for STEM. It fills us with immense pride to participate in SciFest, an event that not only encourages students to delve deeper into STEM subjects but also fosters inclusivity and collaboration.”
Winners from each regional STEM fair go on to compete at a national final in November. Winners from the national final compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in America and attend the Long Night of Science in Berlin.
SciFest is funded primarily by the Department of Education, Research Ireland, Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific, EirGrid and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO, said: “SciFest is more than just a STEM fair: it is a launchpad for young innovators, equipping second-level students with the confidence, skills, and curiosity to tackle real-world challenges. By engaging in hands-on research, collaborating with mentors, and connecting with like-minded peers, participants gain invaluable experience that extends far beyond the competition.
“With over 15,000 students taking part each year and participation continuing to grow, SciFest is shaping the future of STEM education and innovation. This incredible momentum is driven by the unwavering dedication of teachers, mentors, parents, third-level coordinators, and our valued partners and sponsors. Their commitment ensures that every student, regardless of background, gender, ability or circumstance has the opportunity to explore, discover, and innovate. We are deeply grateful for their support in inspiring the next generation of changemakers.”
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