First Irish EUSO Gold

Sam Duffy, Meánscoil na mBráithre Críostaí, Cathair na Mart, Co. Mhaigh Eo; Patrick Carthy, Convent of Mercy, Ballymahon, Longford and David Mulligan, Ard Scoil Chaoimhin, Inbhear Mor, Co Chill Mhantain

A team of three students who represented Ireland at the 6^th European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO 2008) in Nicosia, Cyprus on May 11–17 won Gold medals and the second team won silver medals. This is the best result for Ireland to date and the first Irish Gold medals in the six-year history of this Olympiad. The theme of EUSO 2008 was “LIGHT”.

The Gold medals winning team was: Sam Duffy, Meánscoil na mBráithre Críostaí, Cathair na Mart, Co. Mhaigh Eo; Patrick Carthy, Convent of Mercy, Ballymahon, Longford and David Mulligan, Ard Scoil Chaoimhin, Inbhear Mor, Co Chill Mhantain. This team came seventh overall from the thirty-three teams representing eighteen EU Countries that participated.

The Silver medal winning team members were Hannah Javanmard, Colaiste Naomh Mhuire, Clochar na Trocaire, Nas, Co. Chill Dara; Orla Carron, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co Dublin & Gearóid Wrixon, Christian Brothers College, Sidney Hill, Cork City. This team came sixteenth overall.

Congratulations for this success must also go to Dr. Odilla Finlayson (Country Coordinator and Chemistry Mentor), Dr. Paul van Kampen (Physics Mentor) and Jennifer Dowling (Biology Mentor). They were responsible for the selection and training of the teams.

The national completion (IrEUSO) was held in DCU on Saturday 10^th November 2007. The Irish European Union Science Olympiad (IrEUSO) is a competition for sixteen-year-old second level science students. Students born on or after 1^st January 1991 were therefore eligible to take part. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) provided the names of the high achievers in Science & Mathematics in the Junior Certificate Examinations in 2006 & 2007. The top 200 who qualified under the age criteria were invited to DCU to participate in a competition to select two teams to represent Ireland at EUSO 2008. The list of Finalists was published on the website on Tuesday 16^th October.

The test to select six students (two teams of three) took take place in DCU on Saturday 10^th November 2007. Because each team comprises students with an expertise in each of the sciences they were asked to select their best science subject. The tests, organised by Dr. Christine Loscher/Jennifer Dowling (Biology), Dr. Odilla Finlayson/Dr Paraic James (Chemistry) and Dr. Paul van Kampen/Dr. Eilish McLoughlin (Physics), began at 12.00 noon, ran simultaneously and ended at 3.00 p.m. They were assisted by a number of science faculty technical support staff and post-grad students. The closing ceremony took place at 4.00 p.m. in the Larkin (T101).  Minister Sean Haughey TD, Minister of State in the Department of Education & Science presented the awards.

All participants received a Certificate. The top student in each subject was awarded a gold medal, the next silver and the next two bronze. The three gold and three silver medal winners were invited to represent Ireland at EUSO 2008. The six bronze medal winners were on the reserve list. The teams continue to do assignments on Moodle and intensive residential training programmes took place in DCU during the mid-term break and on the days prior to the EUSO in May.

Training Programme 1 took place on the 29 & 30 January and Training Programme 2 on the 21 & 22 April. B&B Accommodation was provided at the Skylon Hotel and transport to and from train stations was provided where necessary.

Michael A. Cotter
EUSO President
michael.cotter@dcu.ie