Clonmel student was among finalists in prestigious STEM Stars competition
Raheen College student Avaneesh Kilkarne was one of 23 finalists in the BD STEM Stars contest in Limerick last weekend
A Clonmel secondary school student was among the finalists of a prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics competition in Limerick last weekend.
Raheen College Transition Year student Avaneesh Kilkarne’s project, Neuro Pulse, was one of the 23 finalists in the BD STEMS Stars contest at the American medical technology multi-national’s Research Centre Ireland site at the National Technology Park in Castletroy next to the University of Limerick.
Some 60 plus projects were entered in the competition, which is the biggest such event for schools in Munster.
Approximately 100 students and teachers from 16 schools attended the final.
The 2025 BD STEM Stars overall title was claimed by students of Mungret Community College, county Limerick, which received a prize of €10,000 for STEM facilities in the school for their project ‘Independent Me’ - a home-healthcare device to support people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s in remembering key daily tasks.
BD STEM Stars organiser Fionnagh Tsang from Tipperary said the competition was launched six years ago by BD, which stands for Beckton Dickinson, to promote and encourage participation in STEM subjects for second level students.
“The brief given to students was to devise solutions that positively impact and advance the world of healthcare.”
Minister of State for Older People at the Department of Health and Housing Kieran O’Donnell TD, attended the BD STEM Stars finals. He described it as a “festival of innovation” and commended BD Research Centre Ireland (RCI) for its great initiative in hosting the competition.
“This competition is an exemplar of how advocating for STEM in Ireland and BD RCI are helping to create STEM careers of the future,” said Minister O’Donnell.
“These projects reflected both the ingenuity of the students and their desire to have a meaningful impact on the world of healthcare.
“The competition is a brilliant mix that gives huge confidence as to what the world of healthcare can be in the years ahead.”
BD RCI Site Lead Sean Wall said the growth of the competition reflects the growth of interest in STEM subjects among students.
“What we’ve seen over the years with our BD STEM Stars programme confirms the impact that STEM Education Policy, and significant funding committed to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects are having,” said Mr. Wall.
“The students are constantly raising the bar in terms of the ideas they are bringing to the table for overcoming unmet challenges in healthcare, which fits with our ethos of ‘advancing the world of health’. That’s what these students are seeking to do with their projects.”
Director of Schools with Limerick and Clare Education & Training Board, Donncha Ó’Treasaigh said the ETB was delighted to support the BD STEM Stars competition, which has become a vital component of the STEM ecosystem in Munster.
“The impressive growth and quality of entries underscore the effectiveness of partnerships such as this between BD - a leader in its field and our ETB, aimed at promoting STEM engagement.
This competition serves as a powerful example of how collaborative efforts can inspire our students and contribute significantly to Ireland’s future economic landscape,” he added.