2008 Irish Junior Science Olympiad (IrJSO)

2008 Irish Junior Science Olympiad (IrJSO) winners

Six students under the age of sixteen (born on or after 1 January 1993) have been selected to represent Ireland at the 2008 International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Korea on 7th –16th December 2008. They are Aidan Kelly, Drogheda Grammar School, Co. Louth: Thomas Hayes, Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, Co. Kerry: Jack Hutchinson, Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, Dublin 6: Srujana Vedicherla, Mount Carmel Secondary School, King’s Inn St, Dublin 1: Leila Smith, Loreto College, Foxrock, Co. Dublin and Darren McMahon, St. Macartan’s College, Co. Monaghan

In early October the principals of each the post-primary schools were asked to nominate one student who achieved a minimum of six As, include Mathematics and Science in the 2008 Junior Certificate Examination. Approximately ninety registration forms were returned.

The Irish Junior Science Olympiad (IrJSO) took place in DCU on Saturday 8th November last. Registration in the Science Building was between 11.00 - 11.45 am. The three-hour test began at 12 noon and the closing ceremony commenced at 4.00 pm. The majority of the finalists achieved between nine and eleven A grades in the Junior Certificate. Nineteen counties were represented by eighty-five students.

All participants were presented with a certificate at the closing ceremony. The top three students received gold medals, the next three silver and the next three bronze. The gold & silver medal winners were invited to represent Ireland at the 2008 IJSO. The bronze medal winners are on the reserve list. (Luke Corcoran, Abbey C.B.S., Tipperary: Killian O'Dwyer, C.B.S., Ennistymon, Co. Clare & Stephen O'Brien, Colaiste Chriost Ri, Capwell Rd., Cork)

The Irish team will complete online assignments over the next three weeks designed by Dr. Paraic James. They will attend an intensive three-day residential programme in DCU prior to the IJSO. The Irish delegation of six students and two mentors will depart Dublin for the 5th International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Gyeongnam, Korea http://ijso.or.kr/ on December 6th and return on December 16th 2008.