Carbon footprint reduction tool using AI awarded top prize at Microsoft schools’ competition

Five post-primary schools battle it out in Leopardstown campus

Life

6 June 2024

A team of students from Confey Community College in Leixlip, Co. Kildare have been crowned winners of the Microsoft Dream Space: brain_waves national competition. Following on from the students’ engagement in the Microsoft Dream Space TV series brAIn_waves – launched earlier this year in collaboration with RTÉ Learn – the competition encouraged students to harness their learnings from the series to create and submit their team’s AI For Good solution.

Five post-primary schools, representing counties Kildare, Tipperary and Dublin, made it to the final at Microsoft’s Dream Space at its campus in Leopardstown. The teams tackled real-world concerns in their communities, explored how AI could address these issues, and developed their own AI for Good solutions.

Confey Community College won the national competition for their project EcoWise AI, a tool to support the public in reducing their carbon footprints by analysing their personal habits and suggesting personalised changes.

The competition runners-up, Presentation Secondary School in Clonmel, Tipperary, developed an innovative project called Eco-mesh, an AI-powered fishing net that identifies marine life, particularly endangered species, preventing accidental capture and supporting sustainable fishing practices.

Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles, Tipperary presented their Open-SDETENN project, aiming to democratise self-driving technology through open-source development, making it more accessible and affordable.

Dublin’s Old Bawn Community School showcased their project, The Smart Bus, utilising AI to optimise student transportation routes, in turn improving efficiency and environmental impact.

Grange Community College, in Donaghmede, Dublin, presented SupScholar, which leveraged AI to connect students with learning resources, while informing schools about student needs.

James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland site leader and vice-president Microsoft global operations service centre, said: “As a transformative technology that is becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives, it is crucial that students have the opportunity to prepare for an AI-enabled future… The enthusiasm and innovative solutions presented by the participants throughout the competition underscores the importance of industry and education working together to foster the next generation of tech innovators.”

Suzanne Kelly, group head of childrens and young peoples Content, RTE, said: “The considerable creativity on display from the next generation of students was inspiring as they presented compelling AI solutions to real-world issues.”

TechCentral Reporters