International Science Success by Irish Students
Friday 8 September 2006

Irish students have again won silver and bronze medals at the 2006 International Science Olympiads. The students in this competition are trained and coached by DCU prior to the competition.

2006 International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)

Photo: Dr. Paraic James with Mary-Ellen Lynall

Irish student Mary-Ellen Lynall, Methodist College, Belfast was awarded a silver medal at the 38th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2006) held in Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea in July. The Irish team was selected and trained by Dr. Paraic James and the staff of the School of Chemical Sciences, DCU. The medal winners and runners-up at the IBM/DCU Irish Chemistry Olympiad in January were given additional training and assignments before the team of four was finally selected following a test in DCU in April. These four students: - Brendan Quigley, Belvedere College, 6 Great Denmark Street Dublin 1; Martina Feyzrakhmanova, Castleknock Community College, Castleknock, Dublin 15; Joseph Walsh, St. Columb's College, Buncrana Road, Derry and Mary-Ellen, received a weeklong intensive residential training programme in DCU on the IChO syllabus prior to their departure for Korea. Mary-Ellen Lynall also received an IBM scholarship for €1,250. This brings to eleven, including two silver, the number of IChO Medals won by Irish students since Ireland first participated in 1997.

2006 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)

Photo: Charlie Daly, Roxana Vallado (Irish team guide), Stephen Dolan and Ciarán O Conaire

Donegal student, Stephen Dolan, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, won a silver medal at the 18th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2006) in Mérida, Yucatán, México in August. Stephen also received a €1,250 IBM University scholarship for his achievement. The Irish IOI 2006 team also included Michael Clear, Mountmellick Community School, Co Laois; Cian Hughes, Gonzaga College, Sanford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin and Barry Hurley, Gaelcholáiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co. Cork. This team was selected from the medal winners at the IBM/DCU Computer Programming Olympiad held in DCU in January. The team followed an online training programme designed and implemented by Charlie Daly and Ciarán O Conaire. They also attended an intensive residential course in the School of Computing, DCU prior to their departure to Mexico. Since 1993 Irish students have been awarded 1 gold, 4 silver and 9 bronze IOI medals.

2006 International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

Photo: Susan Townsend, Michael McGarvey and Professor Richard O Kennedy

Michael McGarvey, St. Patrick's Academy, Dungannon, County Tyrone was awarded a bronze medal at the 17th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2006) at the National University of Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina in July. Michael also received a €750 IBM University scholarship. The Irish IBO 2006 team also included Moyra Lawrence, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan. Co. Dublin; Charlene Tennyson, St. Michael's Grammar School, Lurgan, Craigavon, Co. Armagh and Mattew Corrigan, Mount Temple, Clontarf, Dublin 3. This team was selected from the medal winners at the IBM/DCU Biology Olympiad held in DCU in January. They were given additional training and assignments, devised by Professor Richard O Kennedy and Susan Townsend, before the team of four was finally selected in May. They also attended an intensive residential course in the School of Biotechnology, DCU prior to their departure to Argentina. Since 1998 Irish students have won 13 bronze IBO medals.

2006 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

Photo: Mr. David Rea and Dr. Paul Van Kampen with Clare O'Driscoll and Karl Irwin

The 37th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2006) was held Singapore in July. The Irish team was selected and trained by Dr. Paul Van Kampen, Mr. David Rea (St Colman's College, Fermoy, Co. Cork) and the staff of the School of Physical Sciences DCU. A panel of fourteen medal winners at the IBM/DCU Irish Science Olympiad was given additional training and assignments before the team of five was finally selected in May. These five students: - Clare O'Driscoll, Mercy Heights, Skibbereen, Co. Cork; Karl Irwin, Methodist College, Belfast; Aman Yadav, St. Colman's College, Fermoy, Co. Cork; Margaret Donnelly, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin and Mark Moriarty, Christian Brothers College, Sidney Hill, Cork City received a week-long intensive residential training programme on the IPhO syllabus in DCU prior to their departure for Singapore. Karl and Clare were awarded Honourable Mention Certificate at the IPhO. Since 1998 Irish students have won 4 bronze IPhO medals. A further 6 students have been awarded Honourable Mention Certificate

For further information contact: Michael A. Cotter, Director, Irish Science Olympiad. michael.cotter@dcu.ie