Fatimah Alaya-Kenny from Sandymount was awarded a prize at the BT Young Scientist competition which took place at the RDS in January.

She won second prize in the Junior Individual section of the Social and Behavioural category with a project focussing on Integration into Irish society.

Fatimah, pictured above, says she was inspired to research into integration because of her experience of moving to Ireland three years ago from the Middle-East. Her central question: ‘How would non-nationals and Irish nationals respond if they were asked to give their personal views respectively on Integration into Irish Society?’

A questionnaire was designed and circulated to a sample of students attending secondary schools in Dublin. The data was analysed using T-tests and presented on graphs with a written presentation of the conclusions from the study. Integration is a dynamic ‘two-way process of mutual accommodation by all immigrants and residents of member states’.

Fatimah herself had a very positive initial experience here, first helped by Mary Price, the principal of Lakelands School, Scoil Mhuire in Sandymount. She now attends Teresians in Stillorgan and has produced this project at 14 years old as a First Year student.

The Young Scientist week was a fun time, what with winning the judges’ recognition and a prize of €225 as well as meeting other young scientists from all over the country.

The conclusion of the project results was overall positive– that we have welcomed non-nationals into our schools. This shows young Irish people to be open-minded.

With non-nationals currently estimated at between 300,000 to 350,000, Fatimah believes that, through eliciting opinions from young people regarding integration, we will “be able to take seriously their views and act upon them without further delay as a foundation for future integration.”