Pictured right: Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley with students at the RDS British Council Climate Change for Schools Exhibition last week.


10-year-old John Breen from Rathdrum Boys National School, Co. Wicklow and 14-year-old Morgane Conaty from Coláiste Muire, Crosshaven, Co. Cork received first prize in the inaugural RDS British Council Climate Change for Schools Competition.

Launched last March, the competition was open to all 10 to 14-year-olds who were asked to think about what climate change meant to them and express their feelings by submitting a work, in any form of their choice. A short list of 50 was generated from the hundreds of entries received. 

John and Morgane’s entries took the form of a clay model of a mudslide engulfing a village and a collage expressing the essence of the ‘power of one’ motto. Both win a fantastic digital camera for themselves and a trip to the W5 Science Discovery Centre in Belfast for their class.

The Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley presented the prizes. Speaking at the event, he said:

“I think we are all aware that climate change is the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. Climate change is everyone’s problem and it will remain so for the foreseeable future. My absolute priority is to ensure that we do all that we can to address climate change and I am heartened to see the young people of Ireland, in particular, taking such an interest in this challenge.”

Dr Austin Mescal, RDS President, said: “The coordination of this competition is part of the RDS Foundation’s Science programme which aims to support excellence in scientific endeavour and communication, emphasise the importance of science and technology in economic and social development and advance awareness on scientific issues.”