THREE students from Errigal College got the chance to represent Ireland last week at the European finals of the Girls Go Circular competition in Brussels.
The Girls Go Circular project aims to equip 40,000 schoolgirls aged 14-19 across Europe with digital and entrepreneurial skills by 2027 through an online programme about the circular economy.
This is an annual conference to celebrate the students who participated in the Girls Go Circular initiative, an initiative that supports students to develop their digital and leadership skills while learning about the circular economy and finding solutions for a sustainable future.
Transition year students Amelie Klamrath, Andrea Noonan and Josephine Wisniewski got the chance to meet up with local MEP Maria Walsh during the visit to the Hemicycle where all MEPs meet to discuss and debate topical issues.
The girls had an opportunity to network with students from 18 other countries and enjoy the Christmas markets during their free time.
In order to secure their place at the finals, Andrea, Amelie and Josephine, under the guidance of their teacher Mr. Evan Gorrell, were tasked with developing the idea for a robot to solve an environmental issue of their choice in their school or their community.
The aim was to encourage female students to gain more experience and self-confidence in dealing with technology applied to real-world issues and promote their interest in scientific fields.
The girls noticed the massive amount of food waste and single-use plastics in their school and figured it was time to do something about it.
Their idea would see a robot made from recycled and sustainable materials to reduce its environmental footprint with its wheels being powered by rechargeable batteries, ensuring that it’s energy-efficient.
The winning Irish entry, named EcoBot, is a compact robot designed to efficiently collect food scraps and used materials in schools.
It has sensors and cameras for navigation and a spacious storage handbag with three compartments for refuse, compost, and recycling.
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