Two students from Loreto Secondary School in Fermoy have entered their project on genetically modified crops to judges at ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards. They, along with entrants from other Cork schools, had to convince a panel of expert judges, including Elaine Nevin (ECO-UNESCO), Eilish O’Boyle (Cork City Council), Roisín Dylan (Waste Matchers), Ann Sullivan (Waterford County Council) and Sinead McDonnell (Limerick City Council), that they deserve a place at the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2013 gala showcase and awards ceremony in Dublin’s Mansion House in May.

Transition Year students Aine McCarthy and Emma Spillane’s project is ‘The possible environmental effects of genetically modified (GM) crops’. Their main aim was to gather public opinions and perceptions on GM crops and use the information to reduce gaps in public awareness on the issue of GM foods.

They’ll find out after Easter if they’ve made it through to the awards ceremony, at which President Michael D. Higgins wil deliver the keynote address.

Cork County Council is supporting the awards programme this year through sponsorship of the ‘Waste Matchers Award’, which is open to Cork schools only and aims to raise awareness around waste minimization and to explore innnovative ways of creating something new from something old.