Minister Sherlock presents Science for Development Award at BT Young Scientist 2016

Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North-South Co-operation, Mr. Seán Sherlock T.D., has this evening presented the Irish Aid-sponsored ‘Science for Development’ Award to three students from Salesian College Celbridge at this year’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Ruaidhrí Jordan, Ben Conlon and Mason Scallon won the Award for their project on the Preservation of Water Supplies Using Hygroscopic Polymers.  

Ruaidhrí Jordan, Ben Conlon and Mason Scallon from Salesian College Celbridge Win Award for Project on “Preservation of Water Supplies Using Hygroscopic Polymers

Speaking from the RDS this evening, Minister of State Sherlock commented: 

“I congratulate Ruaidhrí, Ben and Mason on all their hard work and on the excellent project which resulted in their winning the Science for Development Award. I also congratulate all the other students who chose to focus their projects on global development-related themes.  

“I found it inspiring to meet so many students this afternoon with a real commitment to development issues. On talking to the students I was struck by their imagination and dedication, and their awareness of the global issues of migration and sustainable development.  

Minister Also Welcomes Attendees from Tanzania and Kenya 

“The energy and ideas of young people in Ireland and abroad will be key to ensuring that the ambitions of the landmark agreements reached in New York and Paris are fully realised. 

“I was delighted to meet the young scientists from Tanzania, as well as a delegation from Kenya who have expressed an interest in developing their own Young Scientist exhibition. I look forward to seeing their involvement going from strength to strength over the period ahead.”

 ENDS

Press Office

8 January 2016 

Notes for Editors

Photographs of Minister Sherlock and the award winners have been circulated to photo desks.  

BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition: The annual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is attended by over 60,000 people including members of the public as well as students and teachers from across Ireland. This year marks the 52nd year of the Exhibition, making it one of the longest standing exhibitions of its kind in the world. This year the competition received the most entries ever with 2,000 projects. The exhibition will incorporate the 550 secondary school student projects that were shortlisted from over 2,000 entries for display at the event. 

Science for Development Award: Irish Aid, WorldWise Global Schools and Gorta-Self Help Africa jointly sponsor a special category award known as the Science for Development Award. Irish Aid provides €5,000 towards the award through WorldWise Global Schools which coordinates Irish Aid support for Development Education to post-primary schools and is implemented on behalf of Irish Aid by a consortium led by Gorta-Self Help Africa together with the City of Dublin Education and Training Board and Concern Worldwide. This is the eleventh year that Irish Aid has sponsored the Science for Development Award. The award aims to encourage teachers and students to develop ideas, using appropriate scientific technology that may prove useful at local community level in the Global South, to reduce poverty and promote social justice. This can give the students a greater insight into the wider world, and their role as global citizens.

The winners of the award receive a perpetual trophy and a €5,000 bursary for one student and one teacher to travel on a fact-finding/field testing visit to a country in Africa, in association with Gorta-Self Help Africa. In 2015 Megan Duffy and Zoe McGirr from Oakgrove Integrated College, Derry, won the Science for Development Award for their project on a Seed Harvesting Kit for Subsistence Farmers. 

Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas assistance programme. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.