Young Scientist Road Safety Entrants
The future is bright with this young, enthusiastic group of innovators!
It’s true what they say: ‘Our young people are the future’. The RSA attended the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS in Dublin to meet the road safety category entrants and to discuss their projects. We are excited to share with you their ingenuity and ideas.
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RSA Director, Michael Rowland presenting the 2026 Road Safety Award to Adam Krska, Owen McGee, and Ryan Boyle of Rosses Community School in Donegal for their project: 'Testing Irish Seaweed as a Low Cost, Eco-Friendly Absorbent for Road Oil Spills'. Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences Projects
Testing Irish Seaweed as a Low Cost, Eco-Friendly Absorbent for Road Oil Spills.
Overview: We want to test if dried Irish seaweed can absorb road is better than current methods.
School: Rosses Community School
County: Donegal
Teacher: Kevin Boyle
Students: Adam Krska, Owen McGee, Ryan Boyle
Melting the problem; the effects and alternatives of NaCI on frosty Irish Roads.
Overview: Our project explores the environmental and structural impacts of NaCI in Ireland, and compares effective, sustainable, and inexpensive alternative de-icing methods.
School: Presentation Secondary School Listowel
County: Kerry
Teacher: Catherine Kennedy
Students: Sinéad Baarry, Kate O’ Carroll
The Effect that automobiles have on the environment.
Overview: This project aims to find the effect that vehicles have on the environment.
School: Mount St Michael
County: Cork
Teacher: Alison O’ Neill
Students: Ethan McAuliffe-Aherne, Jan O Longphuirt, Ryan Hourihane
Memory metal crumple zones
Overview: An investigation into the effectiveness of using memory metals to build the crumple zones in car to build in car – could It be made a safe and economical feature?
School: Presentation College, Headford
County: Galway
Teacher: John Toner
Student: Eve Kennedy
Health and Wellbeing Project
Investigating the effects of different frequencies when sleeping among teenagers aged 13-17
Overview: Testing the effects of different, solfeggio frequencies (528Hz, 428Hz, 417Hz) on teenagers as they sleep.
School: St Mary’s Diocesan School
County: Louth
Teacher: Sophie Caine
Students: Ruairí Ó Gráinne, Fergus Nolan, Conor Dolan
Social and Behavioural Sciences Projects
Why Do Pedestrians Jaywalk?
Overview: We are investigating the reasons why people jaywalk. By conducting surveys via age and gender, we aim to uncover patterns that can improve pedestrian safety.
School: Middleton College
County: Cork
Teacher: Simon McKeown
Students: Andrea Herbert, Kate O’ Brien
Experience vs Learning – Should theory test renewal be mandatory?
Overview: We are investigating if driving experience or an up-to-date theory test has a greater impact on improving driving safety.
School: Coláiste Muire Máthair
County: Galway
Teacher: Anthony Carey
Students: Oisin Redmond, Aidan McNeill
Reserved for a Reason: Exploring Public Perception and Misuse of Disabled Persons Parking Spaces and Permits, with Proposed Solutions
Overview: This project aims to examine public opinions on Disabled persons’ parking spaces and permits, as well as recognising misuse and presenting recommendations.
School: St Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom
County: Cork
Teacher: Roisin O’ Keeffe
Student: Áine O’ Leary
An investigation in the Safety and Public Perception of E-Scooters
Overview: This project aims to find out if e-scooters are a positive addition to Irish roads, or if they safety risks outweigh the benefits.
School: St Mary’s Secondary School Macroom
County: Cork
Teacher: Shannen Foley
Student: Georgia Froggatt
Technology Projects
Lights in My Eyes: A novel glare minimising, shrouded bike light suitable for Irish road conditions.
Overview: Establishing glare in Irish Cyclists and creating a bicycle headlight adapted to Irish road conditions to decrease discomfort glare and disability glare in cyclists.
School: St. Michael’s College
County: Kerry
Teacher: Theresa Murphy
Student: Brian Enright
EyeTrackSafe: AI-Based Driver Monitoring System for Preventing Fatigue and Distraction – Related Accidents.
Overview: As AI-powered driver monitoring system. To detect fatigue, distraction, emotional distress, and other high-risk behaviours behind the wheel.
School: Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh
County: Cork
Teacher: Crona McCarthy
Student: Hassan Syed Muhammad
Shaky Science! An investigation of e-scooter/bike vibrations.
Overview: An investigation into the factors affecting hand arm vibration when cycling.
School: Santa Sabrina Dominican College
County: Dublin
Teacher: Paul Nugent
Student: Róisin Dorran
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines for Motorways
Overview: My project examines if Vertical Axis Wind Turbines are a practical solution for generating electricity along the Irish motorways using wind from the passing traffic.
School: CBS The Green
County: Kerry
Teacher: Cathal Halton
Students: S.R. Arush Satyavolu
Roadsense: Piezo-Powered Energy Harvesting from Traffic
Overview: This project aimed to design a piezoelectric system to allow the adaption of existing road infrastructure for the harvesting of waste kinetic energy from traffic.
School: Moate Community School
County: Westmeath
Teacher: Mairead Cusack
Students: Fionn Campbell