Congratulations to students James Maher and Daniel Ryan Begley of St Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh, Co, Tipperary (teacher: Mary Gorey) on winning the Research Ireland Societal Challenge Award at the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2026.
The students’ project was ‘An investigation into a protection protocol for Native Irish Honey Bees against the new, invasive Vespa velutina using sound waves’.
Pictured receiving their award from Research Ireland CEO Dr Diarmuid O’Brien were Daniel Ryan Begley and James Maher.
The Research Ireland Societal Challenge Award 2026 recognised the project that best addressed one of the major societal challenges which Ireland faces.
The winners identified an issue or problem that is of critical importance to the people of Ireland; presented a clear strategy or solution for how they might tackle this issue or problem, and demonstrated an understanding of what is required to make their project succeed. The project also generated conversation about how research can play a role in addressing societal challenges and seizing opportunities for the people of Ireland.
One of the nice things about the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is that it’s young people doing research, as opposed to adults employed to do research. Once you are a senior researcher, you research on the things that you have trained to be involved with. Whereas at school level, you look at things that are important in a societal way – and often in a local society context. For example, on a dairy-related project because they are farmers, or rock formations in the Burren or elsewhere because that’s where they live and grew up, and there are exciting things about their local environment. It’s brilliant, because it so often marries the globally important with the locally relevant.
– Dr Graeme Horley, Science Programme Manager at Research Ireland member of the Exhibition judging panel for the last 16 years.