The designs in the Book of Kells illustrate several mathematical ideas and their artists used geometrical techniques to create the forms in the drawing, a student at the Esat Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition has shown.
Marie-Claire Reilly (13), a second-year student at Our Lady's College, Greenhills, Co Louth, examined the designs in the Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow. In spiral designs, the spacing between the lines in the spirals was consistent. Drawings of faces in the books are all parabolic curves.
Most pages have a vertical axis of symmetry, which means both sides are mirror images of each other. Some also have a horizontal axis of symmetry.
A study carried out by students from Roscommon found the introduction of feng shui, the ancient Chinese method of arranging a room to maximise the harmony of the elements, into a classroom made no difference to pupils' concentration or attitudes towards school.
Sheena Murphy (17), Anna Glennon (17) and Breda Treacy (17), all fifth-year students in the Convent of Mercy, Roscommon, first tested 13 students in an ordinary classroom. They read aloud what they classified as "an uninteresting article" and then tested the listeners.
The subjects were then shown a series of pictures and their first reactions were recorded. For example, a picture of a red chair elicited a response of "danger" - and this was recorded as a negative response.
Afterwards, the room was rearranged according to feng shui principles and the students repeated similar tests.
They found there was no increase in concentration and no increased positive attitude to school.
However, they did say the topic should be investigated further by having a classroom completely designed by a professional feng shui consultant.
A project completed by two students from Sutton required the ultimate sacrifice - a month without television. Kate Murray (15) and Maeve Judge (15) of St Dominic's High school, Santa Sabina, Sutton, gave up the goggle box for 30 days and somehow convinced 28 of their friends to do likewise.
"We wanted to find out if there was life without television," Kate explained. "We found out that there was."
About 60 per cent of those who committed to the project didn't make it, with some returning to their favourite addiction in just a few days. Participants were asked to fill in diary entries each day to describe their struggle and how they used all the new free time.
Almost 70 per cent said they studied more. Others took up new sports and many, including the two researchers, read more.
"One girl watched nine hours of TV on a Saturday night," a shocked Maeve said. "I didn't think it would be as bad as it was."
There was another unexpected downside, Kate admitted. "People's phone bills got much higher."