Jamie Boyle and Roisin Dunne, 10-year-old pupils from Timahoe National School in Laois, are the youngest ever winners of Intel’s Mini Young Scientist competition.
The girls progressed through the local and regional competitions before they walked away as the grand final winners earlier this spring.
“I thought I was going to cry. I had to hold onto the railing in case I fell over,” admits Roisin.
“Everyone is telling us that we’re school celebrities,” adds Jamie.
Deputy principal Martina Mulhall concurs: “The competition was so exciting for everyone in our school, and for Jamie and Roisin to be the youngest ever winners is a huge achievement,” she says. The girl’s project involved testing for bacteria in mascara tubes. With the help of their teacher Anne Moore, they discovered that mascara only stays fresh for three months and that mascara tubes are ideal places for bacteria growth. Jamie and Roisin were given access to the lab in Portlaoise General Hospital where they were taught how to do the experiments, which they re-created in the classroom. They tested four mascara tubes and left them in a chicken incubator overnight for potential bacteria to grow. There was huge excitement as the results showed staphylococcus to be present in the mascara tubes.
The girls put together 10 tips on how to reduce bacteria in your mascara. They also set up a mascara exchange programme with their local pharmacy, Laois Pharmacy, where you could bring in your old mascara and receive a 10% discount off your next purchase.
“Deirdre Holland, the owner of the pharmacy, was very accommodating to the students” adds Martina Mulhall. It’s safe to say this won’t be the last time we hear from the Laois girls.
“Now all I want is to go to college and to become a micro-biologist,” says Roisin.
Sight for sore eyes
Jamie and Roisin’s top five tips to reduce bacteria in your mascara.
Use your mascara within three months and dispose of it after that.Always store your mascara in a cool, dry place, as bacteria just love warm, moist places.Never share your mascara with a friend.Buy disposable wands and use a new wand for every application. This will prevent “double-dipping” and the spread of infection.Never try out mascara in a shop unless you are offered a disposable wand.
Jamie Boyle and Roisin Dunne, 10-year-old pupils from Timahoe National School in Laois, are the youngest ever winners of Intel’s Mini Young Scientist competition.
The girls progressed through the local and regional competitions before they walked away as the grand final winners earlier this spring.
“I thought I was going to cry. I had to hold onto the railing in case I fell over,” admits Roisin.
“Everyone is telling us that we’re school celebrities,” adds Jamie.
Deputy principal Martina Mulhall concurs: “The competition was so exciting for everyone in our school, and for Jamie and Roisin to be the youngest ever winners is a huge achievement,” she says. The girl’s project involved testing for bacteria in mascara tubes. With the help of their teacher Anne Moore, they discovered that mascara only stays fresh for three months and that mascara tubes are ideal places for bacteria growth. Jamie and Roisin were given access to the lab in Portlaoise General Hospital where they were taught how to do the experiments, which they re-created in the classroom. They tested four mascara tubes and left them in a chicken incubator overnight for potential bacteria to grow. There was huge excitement as the results showed staphylococcus to be present in the mascara tubes.
The girls put together 10 tips on how to reduce bacteria in your mascara. They also set up a mascara exchange programme with their local pharmacy, Laois Pharmacy, where you could bring in your old mascara and receive a 10% discount off your next purchase.
“Deirdre Holland, the owner of the pharmacy, was very accommodating to the students” adds Martina Mulhall. It’s safe to say this won’t be the last time we hear from the Laois girls.
“Now all I want is to go to college and to become a micro-biologist,” says Roisin.
Sight for sore eyes
Jamie and Roisin’s top five tips to reduce bacteria in your mascara.
Use your mascara within three months and dispose of it after that.Always store your mascara in a cool, dry place, as bacteria just love warm, moist places.Never share your mascara with a friend.Buy disposable wands and use a new wand for every application. This will prevent “double-dipping” and the spread of infection.Never try out mascara in a shop unless you are offered a disposable wand. 
SHARING OPTIONS