Ireland has many promising and talented young researchers. One of those is Dr James McDermott, who has just returned to the UCD following a stint at the famous MIT Computer Science Artificial Intelligence Lab. James, who is based at the Complex and Adaptive Systems Laboratory (CASL) is working in the ‘exploding’ area of evolutionary computation. This is the field where [...]
Archive for the ‘YOUNG SCIENTISTS’ Category
6 Sep
A cycle helmet with built-in sensors and indicators
Cycling in Dublin city is a dangerous business due to large volumes of traffic, unsafe or totally absent cycle lanes, and an inability of drivers to ready cyclists’ intentions. Rory Hughes, a student at Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, can’t do much about the traffic or cycle lanes, but he has found a way to help drivers [...]
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 [...]
3 May
West Cork students put green, slimy invaders to good use
The beautiful beaches of west County Cork have sadly, in the past few years, been overwhelmed by hordes of unwelcome, green, slimy, smelly, and noxious invaders. No, this story has nothing to do with certain human visitors to the area. Rather this concerns the arrival of a green algae, ‘Sea Lettuce’ – or Ulva Lactuca to be [...]
5 Apr
‘Rachel’s Water’ can prevent water shortages
First Published in March-April ed. of Science Spin It seems odd that Ireland should ever experience water shortages, especially in recent years when rural Ireland has been repeatedly flooded by rainfall. That’s the way it is, that’s the way it always has been, but 14-year-old Rachel Eustace, a 2nd year at Ard Scoil na Tríonóid [...]
11 Jan
A ‘smartphone’ based defibrillator
Published in the Jan-Feb 2011 issue of Science Spin Eighteen people die from cardiac arrest every day in Ireland, with two per week under the age of 35, and a whopping 70 per cent of those die outside hospital. That’s according to figures from the Sudden Cardiac Death Support Group. This means there is a significant [...]
11 Jan
Preventing volcanic ash damage to jet engines
Published in Jan-Feb 2011 issue of Science Spin We all remember the chaos caused by the eruption of the volcano in Iceland earlier in the year, and how fearful airlines were of the resulting ash cloud. Therefore, it is very timely that Ahmed Saeed, Seán Power and Craig Laurie, – pictured on the right – three [...]
11 Jan
Irish and German mothers vary on breastfeeding
Published in Jan-Feb 2011 issue of Science Spin The story begins with a male caller phoning into the Ray Darcy show on Today FM to describe his disgust at having seeing a mother breast feeding in Dundrum Shopping Centre. Then one of the girls at Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, spoke of her father’s discomfort at [...]
11 Jan
A musical instrument anyone call play
Published in Jan-Feb 2011 issue of Science Spin Many of us are interested in music, and would love to play an instrument, but never found the time to put in the hard hours to learn the necessary skills. For many then, it will be of interest to learn that a group of students in St [...]
28 Sep
Lucan students water test for Africa
An estimated 1.5 million children globally die each year from preventable diseases caused by drinking dirty water, according to UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s support agency. It is shameful that rich nations do not do more to prevent such deaths. Great credit is due, therefore, to three young Lucan scientists, and volunteers with Self Help [...]
