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Irish Science Olympiad 2004-05
9 February 2005
Over 500 students from every county in Ireland gathered at Dublin City University on Saturday, January 29th 2005 to compete in the 2004-05 IBM/DCU Irish Science Olympiad. This All-Ireland science competition in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Programming and Physics is open to all second-level students from the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland. These students were competing for gold, silver and bronze All-Ireland Science Olympiad medals, for places on the Irish 2005 International Biology (IBO), Chemistry (IChO), Computer Programming (IOI) and Physics (IPhO) Olympiads teams, the Irish 2005 European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO2005) teams and the Irish 2005 International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)
In early October 2004 every second level school/college in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland received letters addressed to the Head Biology, Head Chemistry, Head Physics and Head Maths/Computer teachers. They were invited to nominate their best students in their subject to participate in the IBM/DCU Irish Science Olympiad in DCU on Saturday January 29th. The letters were sent out on November 5th, the deadline for returned application forms was November 26th and invitations to the selected finalists were posted on December 10th. The list of finalists were also available on the Internet at http://www.dcu.ie/olympiads
The students began arriving at DCU at 9.00 am to register for each of the competitions and the three-hour tests began at 11.00 am in each of the schools.
As in previous years between 33% - 40% of the senior finalists came from Northern Ireland. Because of the different syllabi however an equal number of medals are awarded, north and south. The International teams will be selected following additional training by the DCU science and computing staff later in the year. The two Junior Science Olympiads (under 15 and under 16) are open to students from the Republic of Ireland only.
Professor Richard O Kennedy (Biology) Dr. Paraic James (Chemistry), Charlie Daly (Computer Programming) and Dr. Eilish Mc Loughlin (Physics) who are each responsible for one section of the Olympiad had teams of DCU staff and postgraduate students ready to administer, supervise and correct the tests.
At 4.00 p.m. the students, many accompanied by their parents and teachers crowded into a packed Larkin Theatre for the closing ceremony. Michael A. Cotter (ISO Director) opened the proceedings by welcoming Minister Mary Hanafin td, Minister for Education & Science, Mr. Barry O'Brien, Governmental Programmes Executive - IBM, Mr. Leo Enright, Chairman of "Discover Science & Engineering", Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, President of DCU, Professor Han Vos DCU, Ms. Breeda Connaughton DES and Ms. Anna McKeown IBM. He thanked the parents and teachers for their support and encouragement of these talented young Irish scientists and IBM, the Department of Education & Science and the Forfás - Discover Science & Engineering programme for sponsoring this event. He was particularly appreciative of the tremendous effort put in by the DCU staff and postgraduate students in bringing the 2004-05 IBM/DCU Irish Science Olympiad to a successful conclusion.
Dr. Paraic James:
- Irish Chemistry Olympiad Scientific Committee Chairman
- Irish International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) Team Leaderv
- Elected member of the IChO steering committee
- Vice-President for Europe of the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO).
Professor Richard O Kennedy:
- Irish Biology Olympiad Scientific Committee Chairman
- Irish International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Team Leader
- Member of the IBO Scientific Jury
Dr. Eilish McLoughlin:
- Irish Physics Olympiad Scientific Committee Chairman
- Irish International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) Team Leader
- Member of the IPhO Scientific Jury
Charlie Daly: