The implications for young people. Every living generation has been impacted by Covid-19 in similar but different ways. Elderly people have had to cocoon, certain professions have adopted a ‘work from home’ approach and young people have had to reduce social interaction with their peers to minimise the spread of the virus. For Leaving Certificate students the impact has been particularly significant with uncertainty around the examination process. Hear from two young people who are living through the Covid-19 pandemic and trying to make sense of it.

Benat Broderick is a fifth-year student living with Cystic Fibrosis. He is an ambassador and advocate for the disease and has always been eager to support others with the condition. He uses his voice to educate the public on this matter and began speaking out on social media to discuss the illness and its challenges. As the conversation grew, he began to write articles and speak on radio and TV programmes to spread information and generate more awareness of the illness. Benat is strongly involved with the charity Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and helping to spread awareness to their national fundraising day, 65 Roses Day.

Roisin Cork is a sixth-year student from Ringsend College. Roisin first became involved with Science Gallery Dublin when she attended a Transition Year Week organised by our Research and Learning Team. From there, she contributed as a stakeholder in the Gallery’s OPEN MIND project, as part of the international project SISCODE aiming to co-create solutions for mental health and wellbeing management in young people. This led to presenting the co-creation process to the Queen of Sweden and giving the opening speech for the 2020 Programme Launch at Science Gallery Dublin. Roisin plans to pursue studies in photography after school.