Marian College wins Saffron Science Competition

The Saffron Science competition, has been won by a team from the first-year class of Marian College, Ballsbridge, Co. Dublin. eFlow, along with Saffron Travel and ITS Ireland, has proudly sponsored the competition for the last eight years. The annual competition takes place among secondary schools across Ireland, encouraging students to find and present scientific solutions to problems in the area of transport. 294 schools initially entered the competition this year and 128 videos were submitted. 

The winning team from Marian College received a prize of locally sourced bicycles for every member of their class, provided by eFlow and ITS Ireland. 

In this year’s competition, students were asked to create a video demonstrating how they can improve and encourage more independent travel among young people and children on Public Transport, walking & cycling (‘Travelling in a Child’s Shoes’). As everyone’s circumstances are different independent travel refers to any aspect of travelling safely with or without a parent or guardian on public transport, walking or cycling. 

The winning submission clearly identified barriers by the students to independently travelling in their community such as the lack of bicycle racks in the schools and vehicles frequently impeding cycle lanes causing students to cycle on the main road. 

The winning submission proposed solutions such as providing cycling training in schools to travel safely, increasing the number of streetlights as well as increasing the number of pedestrian crossings near schools. The class also illustrated the many benefits of independently and actively travelling such as overall improvement in health and fitness, reducing your carbon footprint, and disconnecting from mobile devices. Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD offered his congratulations to the winning team via a video message. 

Rory Deegan, Marketing Communications Manager with eFlow, said: “We are delighted with our sponsorship of the Saffron Science Competition as it is a great initiative to encourage students to think about science and community development, which is evident in the passion and creativity they all illustrated in their ideas. Congratulations again to the winning team from Marian College.” 

Stephen Keenan, Managing Director of Saffron Travel said: “The competition entries this year were great and the enthusiasm we received from schools is excellent as the competition proves to be an effective medium to motivate students to talk about transport in their community. Well done to everybody involved in this year’s Saffron Science Competition.”

The winning video presentation created by the team from Marian College can be viewed here.

About eFlow

eFlow is Ireland’s leading toll solutions provider. It was established in Ireland in 2008 and is the operator of the barrier-free tolling system on Dublin’s M50 motorway and a provider of electronic tags for use on all toll roads in the Republic of Ireland. Over the last fourteen years, eFlow has been committed to supporting projects and initiatives which provide tangible benefits and value to young people nationwide.