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Science Olympiad Success in 2008
Irish science students have again achieved International success in 2008 by winning medals at the International Science Olympiads. The staff of the DCU Faculty of Science and Health and the School of Computing began the process of selecting the Irish International Science Olympiad teams in November 2007 when letters were sent to all second level schools in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This was followed by a national competition in DCU in January 2008. Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin TD presented the medals. The teams were selected at a final test at Easter. Online training was provided on the various syllabi and during the weeks prior to departure to the Olympiads intensive residential programmes were put in place in DCU.
2008 International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
Douglas Temple, St. Andrew’s College, Booterstown, Co. Dublin and Melanie Mac Pherson, Methodist College, Belfast, Co. Antrim were awarded bronze medals at the 19th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2008) in Mumbai, India. They will also receive IBM University scholarships of €750. The Irish IBO 2008 team also included Emer O Connell, St Angela’s College, St. Patrick’s Hill, Cork and Carol-Ann Gallagher, Thronhill College, Culmore Road, Derry. This team was selected from the medal winners at the Irish Biology Olympiad held in DCU in January. They were given additional training and assignments before the team of four was finally selected in May. The team also attended an intensive residential training programme on the IBO syllabus in the School of Biotechnology and in India prior to the IBO. Professor Richard O Kennedy and Ms. Elaine Darcy devised this programme. Since 1998 Irish students have won sixteen bronze IBO medals. The Irish IBO Team Leaders were Professor Richard O Kennedy and Ms. Elaine Darcy.
2008 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
David Rea & James Fryar with the IPhO 2008 Team
Mark Moriarty, Christian Brothers College, Sidney Hill, Cork won a bronze medals at the 39th International Physics Olympiad in Hanoi, Vietnam and three others Irish physics students, Stephanie Hyland, Rockford Manor School, Blackrock, Co. Dublin; Alan Bloomer, Waterpark College, Park Road, Waterford and Jonathan McKenzie, Banbridge Academy, Lurgan Road, Co. Down were awarded Certificates of Honourable Mention. The Irish team was selected and trained by Dr. Eilish McLoughlin, Dr. Paul van Kampen, Dr. James Fryar, Mr. David Rea (St. Colman's College, Fermoy, Co. Cork) and the staff of the School of Physical Sciences in DCU. A panel of twelve medal winners at the Irish Physics Olympiad held in DCU last January was given additional training and assignments before the team of five was finally selected in May. These students together with Robert Richardson, Coláiste Iognáid, 24 Bothar na Mara, Gaillimh received a six-day intensive residential training programme in DCU on the IPhO syllabus, divided over two weeks, prior to their departure for Vietnam. Mark will also receive an IBM Scholarships of €750. Since 1998, Ireland’s first year of participation, Irish students have won seven bronze IPhO medals. A further twelve students have been awarded Honourable Mention Certificates. Dr. James Fryar and Mr. David Rea were the team leaders.
2008 International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
Irish student Emma Wilkinson, Banbridge Academy, Co. Down was awarded a bronze medal at the 40th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2008) in Budapest, Hungary in July. The Irish team was selected and trained by Dr. Paraic James, Dr. Odilla Finlayson and the staff of the School of Chemical Sciences, DCU. The medal winners and runners-up at the Irish Chemistry Olympiad in January were given additional training and assignments. The team of four was finally selected following a test in DCU in April. The team also included Adam Johnston, Dalriada School, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim; Hannah Cagney, Mount Anville Secondary School, Goatstown, Dublin 14 and Tim Cronin, Christian Brothers College, Sydney Hill, Cork. Tim was awarded an IChO Certificate of Honourable Mention. The team received a weeklong intensive residential training programme in DCU on the IChO syllabus prior to their departure for Budapest. Emma will also receive an IBM scholarship for €750. This brings to thirteen, including two silver medals the number of IChO Medals won by Irish students since Ireland first participated in 1997. A further four students have been awarded Honourable Mention Certificates. Dr Paraic James and Dr. Wesley Browne were the Irish mentors. Dr. Browne, a DCU graduate is currently Assistant Professor of Molecular Systems & Interfaces at Groningen University, the Netherlands.
2008 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)
Charlie Daly & Ciarán O Conaire with the Irish IOI 2008 team.
The 20th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) was held in August 16-23 in Mubarak City of Education, Cairo, Egypt. The Irish IOI 2008 team included Brian Walsh, St. Colman's College, Fermoy, Co. Cork; David McCarthy, Midleton C.B.S. Midleton, Co. Cork; Harry Cameron, Antrim Grammar School, Steeple Road, Antrim, Co. Antrim and Kevin Leo, Cork Leaving Cert College, Mel House, 31 South Terrace, Cork City. This team was selected from the medal winners at the Computer Programming Olympiad held in DCU in January. The team followed an online training programme designed for the international contest. This was followed by a programming course in UCC where the GB Team leader Dr. Richard Forster was also instructing. They attended an intensive residential course in the School of Computing prior to their departure to Egypt. Since 1993 Irish students have been awarded one gold, four silver and ten bronze IOI medals. Charles Daly and Ciarán Ó Conaire are the Irish team leaders. Ciarán, a former Olympian, an IOI medal winner and the deputy team leader for a number of years was conferred with a PhD in 2008.
IOI Distinguished Service Award 2008
Michael A. Cotter (Ireland) receiving award from Professor Zide Du (China)
Michael A. Cotter (Ireland) was presented with the 2008 Distinguished Service Award at the General Assembly meeting of the IOI Governing Body in Cairo, Egypt by the IOI President, Professor Zide Du (China). This award is presented annually to a member who has given distinguished service to the International Olympiad in Informatics.
Supporting Excellence in Science
The Irish Science Olympiad (ISO) provides students with a chance to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Programming and Physics by participating in Olympiad activities. This initiative is open to all second level students from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Those who achieve the ultimate level of excellence in ISO events have the opportunity to represent Ireland at one of the annual International Science Olympiads
ISO 2009 will take place on Saturday January 24th at Dublin City University. The students will competed for gold, silver & bronze Irish Science Olympiad Medals and the opportunity to represent Ireland at one of the four annual International Science Olympiads. International Olympiad medal winners also receive an IBM University Scholarship worth up to €2,500.
The Principals / Head Science Teachers in all the schools in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will be asked to nominate the most enthusiastic and keenest students in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Programming. Certificates will be given to all participants and two gold, four silver and four bronze medals awarded to the top students in each subject. Following additional training of the panel members and the final selection process, the four member Irish International Olympiad Teams in each subject will be chosen to represent Ireland at of the 2009 International Olympiads.