EU Silver Science Success
Tuesday 18 April

Dr. Eilish McLoughlin and Dr. Odilla Finlayson with the EUSO2006 Irish silver medal winners

Irish science students won silver medals at the 4th European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) in Brussels on 2nd - 8th April. The EUSO is a team competition for EU second level school science students who are 16 years of age or younger. The first EUSO was held in DCU in 2003, Groningen University in 2004 and Galway last year. Germany, Sweden, Spain and Cyprus will host the next four EUSO.

Six students, in two teams of three, represented Ireland at EUSO 2006. Over 250 of the high achievers in Science and Maths in the Junior Certificate Examinations 2004 and 2005 were invited to the junior section Irish Science Olympiad held in DCU in January. (more information) Six students were selected and trained by Dr. Odilla Finlayson (Chemistry), Dr. Eilish McLoughlin (Physics), Dr. Mary O Connell (Biology) and Dr. Christine Loscher (Biology). Mr. John Mc Loughlin, Mr. Anthony Hyland and Ms. Janice Cunningham provided technical support.

Brussels played host to EUSO 2006. Twelve EU countries sent delegations of six students and three mentors (more information). The science faculty staff of VUB designed Task 1, a four-hour multi-disciplinary practical experiment called "Crime Scene Investigation". Task 2 was designed by the science faculty staff of ULB.

Full results here

Further information from
Michael A. Cotter
ISO Director
michael.cotter@dcu.ie