Zone Reports

Kilogram Zone Report March 2021

The Kilogram Zone ran from 1 to 26 March 2021 and was funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). The Zone featured 30 engineers working across a broad range of fields. Download the Zone Report (pdf) ❯ Engineers 30 engineers created profiles. They included: Helena Mylise Sorensen, PhD student at Dublin City University Alan Diaz, PhD student at CONNECT Centre Jun Lin, research scientist at University College Cork The winner of the Zone was Mike Hinchey, Head of Department of the Department of Computer Science & Information Systems at University of Limerick. Mike won €500 to deliver further engagement activities. Students 238 students from 9 schools across Ireland logged into the Zone. 77% of active students were from target schools: 73% from underserved schools and 13% from widening participation schools. Live chats 20 live chats took place during the activity: 14 were school classes booked by teachers and 6 were additional … Continue reading

Posted on April 27, 2021 by modjamie in 2021, News, SFI, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Kilogram Zone Report March 2021

Health Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Health Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF] The Health Zone was a themed zone supported by SFI. It featured six engineers: Tom Hodgkinson is researching new ways to help bone and cartilage heal itself after injury or in old age using stem cells. Sanjeev Kumar is designing a compact on-body device that can be used for patients’ wireless health monitoring in hospitals. Orla McGee is designing devices to help children who have problems with their heart. Fiona Malone, winner of the Health Zone, makes bio simulators for medical research and medical design testing. Eimear O’Hara uses 3D printing to make new shoulder bones for people when their bones don’t work as well. Cillian Thompson is researching how to 3D print a biodegradable screw that heals broken bones.

Posted on April 16, 2020 by modem in 2020, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Health Zone Report – March 2020

Environment Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Environment Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF] The Environment Zone was a themed zone supported by SFI. It featured six engineers: Olga Ormond is working on projects in the digitalisation of industry, which will lead to more environmentally friendly and efficient factories and farms. Madhumidha Murugan is a PhD student at the Centre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis, working on creating a portable environmental sensor. Connor McGookin, the winner of the Environment Zone, is studying how changes to our energy system will reduce the amount of CO₂ emissions Canice Coogan is a civil engineering project manager at Focus Plus Ltd. Aruna Chandrasekar is a PhD student investigating how to make our energy sources and uses cleaner and greener. Anthony Newell helps people use 3D-printing to lower our environmental impact.

Posted on April 16, 2020 by modem in 2020, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Environment Zone Report – March 2020

Automation Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Automation Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF] The Automation Zone was a themed zone supported by SFI. It featured six engineers: Tiziana Margaria is Professor of Software Systems at the University of Limerick. Ruairi Williamson uses sensors and software to predict breakdowns for an electrical and electronic engineering company Ollie Otter, the winner of the Automation Zone, is a PhD researcher testing a replica of a floating wind turbine to see how it will perform at sea. Nessan Harpur is a Customer Manager for the consulting company Trek10. Mahnaz Rashedi is an Electrical Engineer at Finning UK & Ireland – Power Systems Anna Zakrzewska works to better automate communication networks at Nokia Bell Labs

Posted on April 16, 2020 by modem in 2020, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Automation Zone Report – March 2020

Health Zone Report – March 2019

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The Health Zone was a themed engineering zone supported by Wellcome. In this zone there were six engineers:

  • Ted Burke, who specialises in electrical engineering and using the electrical signals inside of us to diagnose health problems.
  • Sajjad Soleimani, who uses engineering to create medical devices.
  • Laura Farina, who develops new medical devices based on electromagnetism.
  • Kevin O’Brien, the winner of this zone, who designs electronics for infusion pumps used for everything from pain relief during surgery to chemotherapy.
  • Ellen Simmons, a biomedical engineer who uses her knowledge to design solutions to various technology problems.
  • Andrea Pacheco, who is using lasers to develop a device that measures oxygen levels in preterm babies.

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Posted on April 15, 2019 by modemily in 2019, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Health Zone Report – March 2019

Production Zone Report – March 2019

[caption id="attachment_11656" align="alignright" width="225"] Click to read.[/caption]

Read the full report

The Production Zone was a themed engineering zone supported by Science Foundation Ireland. In this zone were:

  • Noel O’Dowd, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering who researches new materials such as carbon fibre composite materials.
  • Nina Kanti, an Electronic and Computer Engineer who develops apps and works with novel technology.
  • Ivan Merrick, a Managing Director at Fraser Ross Ltd, responsible for delivering the most effective and efficient solutions to a range of clients engineering needs.
  • Gowthaman Parivendhan, who uses computer-aided simulations to create models that predict the source and cause of defects in 3D printed objects.
  • Diana Abrunhosa, the winner of the Production Zone, who designs water and wastewater treatment plants.
  • Alice Selby, a PhD student developing methods for fabricating new resistors using nano-wires on glass.

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Posted on April 15, 2019 by modemily in 2019, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Production Zone Report – March 2019

Space Zone Report – March 2019

[caption id="attachment_11656" align="alignright" width="225"] Click to read.[/caption]

Read the full report

The Space Zone was a themed engineering zone supported by Science Foundation Ireland. In this zone were:

  • Stephen O’Connor, the winner in the zone, who tests different materials to find out if they can be used to build satellites.
  • Sita Karki, a Computational Scientist who works with satellite images to study the environment.
  • Rory Scarrott uses satellites to look at the oceans, their surface structure and how it changes.
  • Hannah Currivan, who designs electronics to go on satellites.
  • Brian O’Connor studies satellite images and other maps to see how nature is disappearing.
  • Alison Dufresne, a Space Propulsion Engineer who designs and builds rocket engines.

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Posted on April 15, 2019 by modemily in 2019, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Space Zone Report – March 2019

Health Zone Report – Feb-March 2018

Read the full report This event was quieter than expected due to bad weather causing many schools across Ireland to close during the first week of the event. The disruption meant that teachers had to cancel lessons they had planned to run on I’m an Engineer. In total, sixteen chats had to be cancelled across the event with many teachers unable to rearrange. This caused our averages across the event to be a lot lower than in previous years. The Health Zone was a themed zone supported by Wellcome. Pattie is a PhD researcher looking at how stretching stem cells in blood vessels can keep them Karl works for MSD creating new medicines for patients Ivor studies how bone cells sense when we are walking and what happens in conditions such as osteoporosis Fiona, the winner of this zone, is a postdoctoral researcher using 3D printing to design new bone … Continue reading

Posted on April 17, 2018 by modmichaela in 2018, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Health Zone Report – Feb-March 2018

Space Zone Report – Feb-March 2018

Read the full report The Space Zone was funded by Science Foundation Ireland. Willi is a professor in mechanical and materials engineering who has been working on the first Irish satellite Lána is a PhD student also working on the satellite as well as studying dying stars Jonathan is a teaching associate at the International Space University James designs spacecraft for the European Space Agency Eimear, the winner of this zone, is a satellite data researcher studying the coastal environment Thirteen students and three engineers logged in for an evening chat on the last Thursday of the event where students could show their parents the event and ask questions. This was the first time we had run this evening session and most of the students stayed online chatting with the engineers for the full hour.

Posted on April 17, 2018 by modmichaela in 2018, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Space Zone Report – Feb-March 2018

Robotics Zone Report – Feb-March 2018

Read the full report The Robotics Zone was funded by Science Foundation Ireland, with five engineers working in different areas of robotics engineering. Patrick is a PhD student researching robot manipulation Graham, the winner of this zone, is an oceanographic engineer looking at data from buoys in the ocean Dino is working on robots that can be controlled by voice commands and virtual reality Cara is developing a robot companion to keep children calm when they have to go into hospital Aisling is studying how computers work and how we create and translate what they have to say This was the quietest zone in this event with the lowest number of students logging in and questions in Ask. We assigned places to 14 schools, but only were six able to take part because of the weather disruption. Some teachers did hand out login cards so interested students could log in … Continue reading

Posted on April 17, 2018 by modmichaela in 2018, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Robotics Zone Report – Feb-March 2018