Sentinus


Sentinus is a educational charity based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland that provides educational programs for young people interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

History

Northern Ireland produces around 2,000 qualified IT workers each year; there are around 16,000 IT jobs in the Northern Ireland economy.

Function

It works with EngineeringUK and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment. It works with primary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland.
It runs summer placements for IT workshops for those of sixth form age. It offers Robotics Roadshows for primary school children.

Sentinus Young Innovators

Sentinus hosts the annual Big Bang Northern Ireland Fair which incorporates Sentinus Young Innovators. This is a one day science and engineering project exhibition for post-primary students. It is one of largest such events in the United Kingdom. In 2019 over 3,000 students participated from 130 schools across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The competition is affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair and the Broadcom MASTERS program. The overall winner represents Northern Ireland at the following year's ISEF.

Past Overall Winners

YearNameSchoolProject TitleNotes
2019Cleo Gallen & Zainab ShahidLoreto Secondary School BalbrigganSecond time this school won
2018Richard Beattie & Dylan BagnallThe King's HospitalIdentifying Bats from the Roost using an Inexpensive Raspberry Pi Bat Detector & PCRAwarded Best of Category and First Place in the Animal Sciences Category and the China Association for Science and Technology Award at 2019 Intel ISEF
2017Niamh Ann KellyOur Lady's College, GreenhillsThe Antimicrobial Potential of Tree Bark ExtractsAwarded Third Place in the Plants Sciences Category at 2018 Intel ISEF

Second time this school won
2016Gareth ReidGrosvenor Grammar SchoolGazeAwarded Third Place in the Engineering Mechanics Category & SPIE Special Award at 2017 Intel ISEF

Second time this school won
2015Lauren MurphyLoreto Secondary School BalbrigganA Rehabilitation Aid for the Treatment of ‘Clenched FistAwarded Third Place in the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Category at 2016 Intel ISEF
2014Anna McEvoyOur Lady's College, GreenhillsAetiology of bleeding canker disease of Horse Chestnut treesAwarded Second Place in the Plant Sciences category and the Monsanto First Award for Innovation in Plant Science at 2015 Intel ISEF
2013John NeillDown High SchoolFone2FindYoungest Winner of the Competition
2012Myles MitchellLimavady Grammar SchoolMisbehaving Waves – The Surreal ThingAwarded first prize from the Acoustical Society of America and a second prize from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists at Intel ISEF 2013
2011Henrik BrueseckeSt Columba’s Comprehensive SchoolAwarded Fourth Place in the Category of Computer Science & Second prize from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers at 2012 Intel ISEF
2010David McCarroll & Jonathan McEwanSouth Eastern Regional CollegeVoice Activated AlarmHighly Commended at 2011 Intel ISEF
2005Caron Malone, Barbara Fleming & Daniel EvansRathmore Grammar School
2004Peter KirklandDalriada SchoolAwarded First Place in Engineering at 2005 Intel ISEF
2003Fergal Garvey & Darran TreanorAbbey Christian Brothers' Grammar SchoolColonial Behaviour in sea anemonesAwarded Fourth Place in Category and Third Place in Northern American Benthological Society Award at 2004 Intel ISEF
2002Patrick CorbettSt Patrick's College, MagheraAwarded Second Place Grand Award in Engineering at 2003 Intel ISEF
2000Sharon MatchettGrosvenor Grammar SchoolMaternity Seat BeltAwarded Fourth Place in her Category at 2001 Intel ISEF
1999Conor Higgins, Elizabeth Crawford & Angela WilsonHazelwood CollegeAwarded Second Place in the Environmental Science Category at 2000 Intel ISEF
1998Ravi Sumra Foyle and Londonderry CollegeSinker Sorting DeviceAwarded First Place in the Engineering Category at 1999 Intel ISEF

Inaugural Winner