Minister Joe Costello presents ‘Science for Development’ award

Minister Joe Costello presents the Irish Aid World Wise Global Schools ‘Science for Development’ Award at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2014.

Minister Joe Costello presents ‘Science for Development’ award to two Ballyclare High School students from Antrim at BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello TD today presented the Irish Aid World Wise Global Schools ‘Science for Development’ Award at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2014. The award is given in collaboration with WorldWise Global Schools and Self Help Africa.

The Minister presented the award to the Ballyclare students Emily Lecky and Zoe Cheshire at a special ceremony in the RDS for their project; a solar powered water sanitation furnace with solar pasteurisation to be used in the aftermath of natural disasters when water and sanitation facilities are scarce.

Minister Costello said:

“I am delighted to present the Irish Aid World Wise Global Schools ‘Science for Development’ award to this innovative and exciting project which could make a huge difference to peoples’ lives in the developing world”

“I was inspired by the students I met on my visit around the exhibition today. Young people are using their time and skill to question, explore, and test their hypotheses so as to examine the role  science can play in creating a better, more just and equal world. Moreover, scientific and technological know-how drive productivity, and are very important factors for development”.

For the last 50 years the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition has played an essential role in encouraging Ireland’s young people to realise their full scientific potential.

Irish Aid, Self Help Africa and World Wise Global Schools both have interactive information stands at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition this yearWorldWise Global Schools is Irish Aid’s programme of support, and a one-stop shop of funding, resources and guidance for Development Education at post-primary level nationally

Irish Aid is also a proud supporter of the Young Scientist of the year programme in Tanzania in East Africa. Irish Aid in collaboration with NUIG Maynooth launched the Tanzania initiative in 2011 and it has been going from strength to strength.  The special prize for the winners of the Tanzania Young Scientist of the year is a trip to Ireland to attend and exhibit at the Irish Young Scientist event in the RDS.

Speaking at the RDS, Minister Costello said:

“Because of the success of the event in Tanzania in promoting science and technology in second level schools and because of the strong links between science and technology and international development and trade, I would very much like to see this initiative rolled out in more of Irish Aid’s partner countries”.

www.worldwiseschools.ie