Oisin Foley been presented with a prize at the Young Scientist 2011

Sci fest 2010

Young Scientists

Junior Science Olympiad

Science Department- The Science department provides a comprehensive curriculum for both the Junior and Seniorcycles.

Science Personnel

The department has a staff of seven full-time teachers who possess extensive expertise and experience. A number of staff have been involved in in-career development and teaching workshops. The department has a dedicated subject co-ordinator. Regular meetings take place, exploring ways of promoting and developing the science subjects within the school, and in recent years the numbers opting for the science route has grown significantly.

Science at Junior Level

• The Junior cycle equips students with the basic scientific knowledge and methodology to take science subjects at leaving certificate level.
• This covers the basic skills in the three strands Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
• The students engage in practical and theoretical work.
• Their practical skills are examined for junior certificate by the two investigations based on their coursework and their recorded practicals throughout the three years.

Science at Senior Level

• The options available to students at senior level are Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Agricultural Science.
• Physics offers the students a chance to explore heat, light, mechanics, electricity, magnetism, radioactivity, particle physics and sound.
• Chemistry provides an insight into analysing substances by titration, radioactivity, equilibrium, acids/bases, water and sewage treatment and organic chemistry.
• Biology equips students with the knowledge of human body systems, plant physiology, genetics, micro-biology and ecology.
• Agricultural Science entails the study of beef, dairy, sheep and pig farming as well as crop development and plant/animal physiology.

Science Facilities

The Science department boasts four fully equipped laboratories to cater for the large number of students taking science subjects in our school. Each of the rooms also come equipped with personal computers with internet connection, video, overhead projection, notice boards, white boards and data projectors. All teachers in the science area have rooms with posters and students work reflecting the subject area. The resources and equipment of the science department facilitate the use of a wide variety of teaching methodologies. The department are in the process of compiling a database of IT resources for use in engaging students in science. The department are further facilitated by the assistance of a laboratory technician.

Department Activities

The department are involved in a large range of extra activities which include:

• BT Young scientist
• Sci-Fest in Athlone IT
• The school runs a science week in November.
• Senior science national quiz.
• Ag science, biology and junior science field trips.
• A large range of speakers related to scientific topics visit our school.
• Continuous IT updating and training.

** Note- This department plan is only a basic introduction to each department. A detailed version is kept on record in the staffroom

**Note -This department plan is only a basic introduction to each department. A detailed version is kept on record in the staffroom.