A PROJECT by three final year Interactive Media Arts students, Michael Harvey, Maria Breen and Neil Devlin from the University of Ulster, has won top prize of £650 at this year's Science Shop award.
The annual awards event, which recognises the best community-based action research projects of the year, was held at the University of Ulster's Belfast campus.
In association with the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, the winning student team produced a portfolio of photographs, merchandise and an interactive map offering a modern perspective of Belfast’s iconic landmarks, old and new.
Joe Hughes of the BVCB says: “The final presentation of the students' work was totally beyond our expectations: the quality of the photography was worthy of the best agency in Belfast or London. The imagination, creativity and innovation displayed left us, frankly, speechless. As a first experience working with the Science Shop this project was outstanding."
Second place was award to Niamh Ni Artghaile, a Sport and Exercise Science student at Ulster Jordanstown campus. Niamh worked with SALTO National Gymnastics Centre undertaking an evaluation of services available to all users including local schools, parents, mother and toddler groups and gymnastics squads, who regularly use the SALTO facility in Lisburn.
Tony Byrne, CEO of SALTO Gymnastics, said: “Niamh’s project is a fantastic piece of work that will be invaluable to Salto when making further applications for funding."
The Science Shop is a community outreach initiative that provides community and voluntary groups across Northern Ireland with access to students, who will help with t he completion of community based projects.
Claire Mulrone, Manager of the Science Shop at Ulster, said "These students have been recognised for their invaluable and creative contribution to their respective community partners. This is an endorsement of the value of Science Shop outreach activities at the University of Ulster to the community and voluntary sector right across Northern Ireland."