Ants are members of the group of social insects (insects that live together in large colonies) which includes bees and termites. They are fascinating creatures to study. They organise their societies with precision, every individual has a clear role, they are brilliant builders, ferocious in defending their interests, and have incredible physical and sensory abilities. [...]
Archive for the ‘CAREERS’ Category
25 Nov
Microelectronics in Ireland – The future is bright
The Irish economy might be on its knees, but here and there, there are some signs of hope. One of our brightest hopes is for the continued success of the microelectronics industry here. Microelectronics is all about the tiny components we put into our beloved modern devices to make them work better, such as microchips [...]
21 Nov
The ‘Cyber Policewoman’
The sophistication of online criminals is increasing all the time, and their activities extend beyond fraud and theft, into sinister areas such as paedophilia and cyber terrorism. It is important, therefore, to understand the psychology of the online criminal, as well as that of their potential victims, and this is the work of Dr Grainne [...]
10 Nov
What’s it like to be an astronaut?
Ever wonder what it would be like to be an astronaut? To be the first person from your country to go into space? To conduct a spacewalk outside your spacecraft, while watching planet Earth passing by below? Christer Fuglesang, from Sweden, pictured on the right, is one of the most experienced astronauts in Europe. He [...]
10 May
The Volcanologist
Studying maths and maths physics as an undergraduate at UCD led Chris Bean into exciting and unexplored directions, such as finding himself atop a volcano in Costa Rica, being interviewed by a TV crew, as he ‘listened in’ to a volcano. Neither of Chris’s parents were scientists, and rather there was a strong interest in [...]
4 May
THE ATOM SPLITTER: Ernest Walton
In 1932, aged 29, Waterford-born Ernest Walton, pictured here on the right, did something remarkable – he split the atom, or the atomic nucleus to be more precise, and the news stunned the world. This colossal event in the history of science took place in Cambridge, UK, in the Cavendish Laboratory, a world-famous laboratory run [...]
3 May
What attracts people to a career in science?
Why do some people want to become scientists, while others avoid science subjects in school at all costs? Laura Brennan and Megan Oliver, Transition Year students at Dominican College Drumcondra, north Dublin, sought some answers to these important questions. Both Laura and Megan are keen on science, and come from a school that is keen [...]
5 Apr
The ‘Stem-Cell Sheriff’
First published in the March-April 2011 ed. of Science Spin Stephen Sullivan is an Irish stem cell researcher working in the USA. He is a strong advocate for embryonic stem cell research in Ireland, and all the other types of stem cell research. He is passionate about his work, and believes stem cells have the capacity [...]
5 Jan
The ‘Materials Master’
Published in the Jan-Feb ed. of Science Spin Imagine a laptop that works 1,000 faster than today? Or an electrical power grid that loses almost no electricity during power transmission, and is 99 per cent energy efficient? These things will become possible in the future if scientists can develop superconducting materials that operate at room [...]
5 Jan
The ‘Brain Chemist’
Published in Jan-Feb 2011 ed. of Science Spin John Lowry, Prof of Chemistry at NUIM, had planned to become an astrophysicist like his hero Carl Sagan, but he became more interested in the chemistry of the human brain. Depression, Alzheimer’s, and schizophrenia are all diseases of the brain, and can destroy the lives of sufferers [...]
