Three teenagers from Ireland have won the Grand Prize at this year's Google Science Fair.
Ciara Judge, Émer Hickey and Sophie Healy-Thow - who are all aged 16 and from Kinsale Community School in Cork - scooped the top honour at the competition in California.
The trio won the competition's 15-16 age category as well as the Grand Prize.
As part of their winning research, the trio investigated the use of natural bacteria to assist food production by increasing crop output.
Google says Ciara, Émer and Sophie have won a "10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands provided by National Geographic, a $50,000 scholarship from Google, a personalized LEGO prize provided by LEGO Education and the chance to participate in astronaut training at the Virgin Galactic Spaceport in the Mojave desert."
Kinsale Community School's Deputy Principal Kathleen O'Brien says the whole school is delighted for the girls:
Watch the moment the were announced as winners (about 1 hour 30 mins in):
Émer's father Peter Hickey tweeted his joy at the girls' victory earlier this morning:
Google Science Fair Winners - my daughter Emer and her team-mates Ciara and Sophie - #oneProudDad pic.twitter.com/P1AUbGWS7G
— Peter Hickey (@peterhick) September 23, 2014
Congratulations to the Google Science Fair 2014 grand prize winners - Ciara, Emer & Sophie. #GSF2014 pic.twitter.com/QejeX7Cyv4
— Google Science Fair (@googlescifair) September 23, 2014
Originally posted at 7:55am
