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Irish Science Olympiad 2006-07
Monday 26 February 2007
The Irish Science Olympiad, an All-Ireland science competition in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Programming and Physics, which is open to all second-level students from the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland took place on Saturday 27th January. The schools are asked to nominate their best science students to take part. Approximately 350 students registered for the four competitions. These students competed for gold, silver and bronze All-Ireland Science Olympiad medals and for places on the Irish 2007 International Biology (IBO), Chemistry (IChO), Computer Programming (IOI) and Physics (IPhO) Olympiads teams.
The students began arriving at DCU at 9.00 am to register for each of the competitions and the three-hour tests began at 11.00 am in each of the schools.
As in previous years 30% - 40% of the finalists came from Northern Ireland. Because of the different syllabi however an equal number of medals are awarded, north and south. The International teams will be selected following additional online and residential training by the DCU science and computing staff later in the year.
Professor Richard O Kennedy (Biology), Dr. Paraic James (Chemistry), Charlie Daly (Computer Programming), Dr. Eilish McLoughlin (Physics) who are each responsible for one section of the Olympiad had teams of DCU staff and postgraduate students ready to administer, supervise and correct the tests.
At 3.30 p.m. the students, many accompanied by their parents and teachers crowded into a packed Larkin Theatre for the closing ceremony where they were each presented with a personalised certificate. Michael A. Cotter (ISO Director) opened the proceedings by welcoming Minister Mary Hanafin TD, - Minister for Education & Science, Ms. Elaine Stephen, Director of the IBM Dublin Software Laboratory, Mr. Peter Brabazon - Programme Director, Discover Science & Engineering, Ms. Mary Whelan - DES and Ms. Deirdre Kennedy - IBM. He thanked the parents and teachers for their support and encouragement of these talented young Irish scientists. He was particularly appreciative of the tremendous effort put in by the DCU staff and postgraduate students in bringing the 2007 IBM/DCU Irish Science Olympiad to a successful conclusion. These included;
Dr. Paraic James
Irish Chemistry Olympiad Scientific Committee Chairman
Irish International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) Team Leader
Elected member of the IChO steering committee
Irish Junior Science Olympiad Pedagogical Team Leader
European Vice-President of the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)
Dr. Odilla Finlayson
Irish Chemistry Olympiad Scientific Committee member
Irish EUSO Chemistry & Delegation Leader
Member of the EUSO Scientific Jury
Professor Richard O Kennedy
Irish Biology Olympiad Scientific Committee Chairman
Irish International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Team Leader
Member of the IBO Scientific Jury
Ms. Susan Townsend (Ph.D. student)
Irish Biology Olympiad Scientific Committee member
Irish International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Deputy Team Leader
Member of the IBO Scientific Jury
Dr. Eilish McLoughlin
Irish Physics Olympiad Scientific Committee Chairman
Irish International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) Team Leader
Member of the IPhO Scientific Jury
Dr. Paul van Kampen
Irish Physics Olympiad Scientific Committee member
Irish EUSO Physics Team Leader
Member of the EUSO Scientific Jury
Mr. David Rea (Physics Teacher, Cork)
Irish Physics Olympiad Scientific Committee member
Irish International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) Deputy Team Leader
Member of the IPhO Scientific Jury
Charlie Daly
Joint founder of the All Ireland Schools Programming Competition (1994)
Irish Computer Programming Olympiad Scientific Committee Chairman
Irish International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) Team Leader
Member of the IOI Scientific Jury
Ciarán O Conaire (Ph.D. student)
Irish Computer Programming Olympiad Scientific Committee member
Irish International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) Deputy Team Leader
Member of the IOI Scientific Jury
Professor John Costello (Physics) was also in attendance
Minister Mary Hanafin, Ms. Elaine Stephen, Mr. Peter Brabazon thanked everyone involved, highlighted the importance of science both in the school curriculum and in the wider community and expressed their delight at the numbers of students taking part.
Medal & Awards
Subject: Biology
Chairman: Professor Richard O Kennedy
Trophy & Gold,Thomas McGrath-Daly, Castlecomer Community School, Kilkenny
Gold, James Wu, Methodist College, Belfast, Co Antrim
Silver, Michael Murphy, Ardscoil Mhuire, Limerick
Silver, Ciarán Downey, St Columb’s College, Derry
Silver, Eamon Keane, Salesian College, Celbridge, Kildare
Silver, Cathal McGuinness, St Columb’s College, Derry
Bronze, Naomi Hodgins, Kings Hospital, Palmerstown, Dublin
Bronze, Carmel Moore, Ashbourne Community School, Meath
Bronze, Jeremy McKeown, Cookstown High School, Tyrone
Bronze, Aoife Brue,n St Nathy’s College, Roscommon
Subject: Chemistry
Chairman: Dr. Paraic James
Trophy & Gold, Grellan Tuohy, St. Muredach’s College, Ballina Co. Mayo
Gold,Andre Cairns,Banbridge Academy, Banbridge, Co. Down
Silver, Martina Feyzrakhmanova,Castleknock Community School, Dublin 15
Silver, Christopher Kirk, St. Columb’s College, Derry
Silver, Jonathan Fee, Down High School, Downpatrick, Co. Down
Silver, Claire Murphy, Holy Faith Convent , Clontarf, Dublin
Bronze, Emma Church Integrated College, Dungannon, Co.Tyrone
Bronze, Ashley Morgan, Cookstown High School, Co. Tyrone
Bronze, Lucy Dockrell, Alexandra College, Milltown, Dublin
Bronze, Nuala McAuley, Laurel Hill Secondary School, Limerick
Computer Programming
Chairman: Charlie Daly
Trophy & Gold, Stephen Dolan, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Silver, Barry Hurley, Gaelcholaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co Cork
Bronze, Joshua Tobin, St. Aidan's CBS, Whitehall, Dublin 9.
Bronze, Yann Sweeney, St. Columba's Comprehensive, Glenties, Co.Donegal.
U-17Gold, Katie O’Mahony, St. Aloysius' School, Sharman Crawford Street, Cork City.
Silver,Kevin Leo, Coláíste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, Cork
Bronze, Brian Walsh, St Colman’s College, Fermoy, Cork
Subject: PHYSICS
Chairman: Dr. Eilish McLoughlin
Trophy & Gold, Mark Moriarty, Christian Brothers School, Sidney Hill, Cork
Gold, Eamon Robinson, St. Columbs Collge, Derry
Silver, Barry O'Farrell, Colaiste an Spioroid Niamh, Cork
Silver, Simon Wright, Methodist College, Belfast
Silver, Brendan Moroney, St Columbs College, Derry
Silver, Galen Lowney, Clongowes Wood college, Kildare
Bronze, Paul McElhinney, Belvedere College, Dublin 1
Bronze, Stephen Knox, Cookstown High School, Tyrone
Bronze, Rachel Brown, Banbridge Academy, Banbridge, co down
Bronze, Jennifer Quigley, Presentation Secondary School, Ballingarry, Tipperary