Two Coláíste Muire Máthair students have been recognised for their project investigating antioxidant levels in everyday foods and drinks at the SciFest@Teen-Turn event held in Avantor, Dublin.
Anastasija Tatarnikova and Julia Matysik spearheaded the project entitled 'A Clock Ticking on Health: Measuring Antioxidant Levels in Food Sources Using the Iodine Clock Experiment'. It explores how antioxidants help slow down oxidation in the body and compares the antioxidant activity of different food and drink sources.
Sparked by a classroom discussion on oxidative stress, the students used the iodine clock experiment to examine a range of everyday items including nuts, herbs, spices, juices and carbonated drinks. Through their investigation, Anastasija and Julia found that natural foods such as nuts, herbs and spices, along with pure fruit juices, showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than processed foods and fizzy drinks, which caused the reaction to occur almost instantly.
“We wanted to see which foods actually help slow down oxidation and which ones don’t,” they said.
Anastasija and Julia took part in Teen-Turn’s Project Squad programme, which provides weekly, structured sessions supported by mentors over the course of three months.
“Knowing we had set sessions meant we could plan properly and focus fully on our project,” said the pair.
Their mentor, Sinead Philips, praised the impact of Teen-Turn on the students’ development.
“The structured format helped the girls stay on track and break the project into manageable weekly goals,” she said. “Over time, I saw them grow more confident, not just in presenting their work, but in problem-solving and coming up with their own solutions.”
Sinead also highlighted the importance of initiatives like Project Squad for girls in STEM.
“Teen-Turn gives students the chance to really engage with the scientific method in a supported way, while also removing financial barriers so they can focus entirely on their work,” she added.
For ten years, Teen-Turn has supported teenage girls to explore STEM through initiatives such as Project Squad, PLUS Club, Technovation, and Work Experience. The non-profit organisation has allowed students to gain confidence, practical skills and insight into future education and career pathways in science and technology.
