The team, which included Aoife White (18), Nicole Lynch (18), Terri McLaughlin (18), and was mentored by teacher Ann Blanking, scooped the 'Northern Ireland Young Scientist' Award for their innovative project to develop lycopene-based sun creams over a range of sun factors.

Among the VIP guests for the event, which was held at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast last Thursday, were the school's local MP Mark Durkan - who joined the St Mary's team on stage for the presentation - Sir Roland Jackson (Chief Executive of the British Science Association), Mervyn Storey MLA (Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Committee), and Jim Stewart CBE (Chairman of Sentinus).

CEO of Sentinus Brian Campbell said: "I would like to congratulate St Mary's College for their hard work and dedication. Our judging panel was hugely impressed by the team's capacity to deliver on such as advanced scheme of work. But beyond the category winners, every school who came along has contributed hugely to yet another successful 'Young Innovators' event. We have been bowled over this year by the enthusiasm, imagination and energy that young pupils have invested in their projects."

Up to 1,500 pupils from 60 schools across Northern Ireland descended on the Odyssey Arena for the Sentinus 'Young Innovators' Exhibition - the biggest science fair of its type in the whole of the UK.

Overall, more than 2,500 people – including teachers, parents, political representatives – passed through the Odyssey on the day.