Irish students wins a bronze medal for Computer Programming at the International Science Olympiad
4 September 2002

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Michael A. Cotter, Martin Orr and Charlie Daly

Robert Cunningham, Daniel Irvine, Eamon Phelan and Martin Orr

The International Olympiad drew to a close last month with one last triumph for DCU. The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) was the final stage of the tournament at which Martin Orr, a student at the Methodist College, Belfast won a Bronze medal. It is the second time in the history of Irish participation in the International Science Olympiad that students have won medals in all four subjects; Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Informatics in the same year.

A panel of Informatics students were selected from the IBM/DCU Irish Science Olympiad which was held in DCU last December. The team of four was then chosen from this panel and comprised Martin Orr, Belfast, Eamon Phelan, Kilkenny, Daniel Irvine, Belfast and Robert Cunningham, Derry. The team, accompanied by Charlie Daly, a senior lecturer in Computer Applications and team leader, and Michael A. Cotter, Irish Science Olympiad director and deputy team leader, received intensive training in the School of Computer Applications prior to their departure.

Ireland has been awarded ten medals ( 9 Bronze and 1 Silver) since first participating in the IOI. Many of the students who have taken part in this competition have pursued their studies in DCU from undergraduate through to PhD level. Ciaran O Connaire and Trevor Johnston, current DCU students and IOI participants, helped with the organisation of the National competitions and with the training of the Irish International teams.

A presentation ceremony for all Science Olympiad medal winners is due to take place in DCU - details will follow shortly.