Laois students celebrate major win at national ESB competition
Scoil Chríost Rí in Portlaoise was recognised for their creativity in the student video competition
Laois students have celebrated a major win at the nationwide ESB Networks’ Weather Watch Schools Programme.
Secondary school students from Scoil Chríost Rí in Portlaoise were named the winners of the Best Scientific Communication category of the ESB’s national student video competition.
The competition formed part of this year's Weather Watch Schools Programme, which reached more than 15,000 students across 183 secondary schools nationwide.
The programme aims to help students understand the relationship between weather patterns, renewable electricity generation and electricity use through classroom learning and real-time weather monitoring.
Scoil Chríost Rí was recognised for the creativity and innovation demonstrated in its student video, with the competition celebrating excellence in scientific understanding, communication and engagement with renewable electricity and sustainability.
Results from this year's Weather Watch Schools Programme also demonstrated significant improvements in students' understanding and awareness of renewable electricity.
Student knowledge scores increased by 16% following participation in the programme, with awareness of renewable electricity and energy use increasing by 16% and 85% of students recognising the direct link between weather conditions and renewable electricity generation.
As a result of the programme, 75% of students reported changing their own electricity-related behaviours after taking part in the initiative.
The programme also demonstrated a positive impact beyond the classroom, with 95% of households adopting energy-saving behaviours influenced by participating students, highlighting the role young people can play in encouraging conversations about energy use at home.
Commenting on Scoil Chríost Rí’s win, Aisling Walsh, Customer and Strategy Manager at ESB Networks, said: "On behalf of ESB Networks, I'd like to congratulate the students and teachers at Scoil Chríost Rí Secondary School on winning the Best Scientific Communication category in this year's Weather Watch Schools Programme student video competition.
“It is encouraging to see so many students developing a better understanding of renewable electricity while also applying what they have learned in their daily lives and sharing those learnings with their families and communities.