Belfast Students Receive Marine Institute Award

Ireland, Dublin: Projects on microphone manufacturing, the synthesis of anti-depressants, and an ultrasonic detector for gas chromatography won the three first prizes at the 16th EU Contest for Young Scientists in Dublin today. The winners come from Austria, Denmark and Germany, and contestants from several other countries (Turkey, Poland and Lithuania) won second and third prizes in areas as diverse as computing, biology, environment, mathematics and physics. (See list below for full details of all prize-winners).

As well as nine top prizes totalling Euro 28,500, other prizes were awarded included travel prizes and work placements to international science organisations. Eight special prizes were awarded by Irish organisations including Science Foundation Ireland, Discover Science & Engineering, Intel, Analog Devices, the Royal College of Surgeons, the Marine Institute and the Institute of Physics.

Three students from Belfast, Brenda Kearney, Maureen O’Sullivan and Dearbhla McKenna, representing the UK, received the Marine Institute Award for their biology project using larvae to test sea water quality.

In total, 31 awards were presented by An Tanaiste, Mary Harney and Mr Achilleas Mitsos, Director-General of Research at the European Commission at Dublin Castle today.

The event, which was held in Ireland for the first time, proved to be a huge success with over 15,000 people visiting the showcase at O’Reilly Hall, UCD. Over 100 of Europe’s young scientists from 34 countries showcased 73 award winning projects. Already winners at their own national science contests, students displayed their projects to the public and an international jury of 15 experts.

Part of the EU's Science and Society programme, the aim of this annual event is to encourage young people to pursue their interest in science and embark on scientific careers. The event was supported in Ireland by Science Foundation Ireland, Discover Science & Engineering and Irish Universities Promoting Science.The 2005 EU Contest for Young Scientists will be held in Moscow, Russia.

After the awards ceremony in Dublin Castle, the overall winners paid a courtesy call to President McAleese at Aras An Uachtarain. The Chairman of the Judging Panel this year was former astronaut and physicist, Dr Ulf Merbold. Trinity College’s Vice Provost, Professor Jane Grimson was also on this year’s judging panel.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, An Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD, said: “Above all this competition can help to break down barriers, encourage a sense of unity and enhance links between the scientific communities in Europe and beyond which can only enrich the pursuit and advancement of knowledge”.

For further information:
Brian Harmon, Director of Media
16th EU Contest for Young Scientists
Tel: +353 1 7162889 or +353 86 264 3100
E-mail: mediacentre@eucontestireland.com

Further information about all winning projects, students and background to the 16th EU Contest for Young Scientists as well as downloadable, high-resolution photographs of the event can be found at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/youngscientists/code/press-centre_en.htm

Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar 2004
to attend the 2004 Nobel Prize ceremonies, meet the Nobel Laureates and take part in a series of other scientific/cultural activities during the week.

Country	Name of contestant	Age	Field	Title
Denmark	Charlotte Strandkvist	18	Chemistry	Improving the method for synthesizing N-methyl fluoxetine in the laboratory
Turkey	Mehmet Halit Calayir	19	Physics	Construction of a seismograph
Turkey	Mehmet Cakan	19	Physics	Construction of a seismograph

London International Youth Science Forum 2005
to meet young scientists from around the world and take part in the annual two-week intensive summer science festival during July-August 2005.

Country	Name of contestant	Age	Field	Title
Austria	Martin Knobel	20	Engineering	A break-through in the manufacturing of condenser microphones
Austria	Gerhard Schony	19	Engineering	A break-through in the manufacturing of condenser microphones
Austria	Florian Grossbacher	19	Engineering	A break-through in the manufacturing of condenser microphones

The European Patent Office, Munich, Germany
A five-day visit of a technical and cultural nature to the European Patent Office in Munich

Country	Name of contestant	Field	Title
Austria	Lukas Brenner and Christoph Ritzberger	Engineering	An alternative method for keeping swimming pool water clear
Germany	Mario Chemnitz	Physics	An ultrasonic detector for gas chromatography
Turkey	Ocan Sankur	Computer	N-gram based language classification

ESA: The European Space Agency

Country	Name of contestant	Field	Title
Germany	Michael Achtelik	Engineering	Miniaturized turbo jet engine

CERN: The European Laboratory for Particle Physics
EFDA: The European Fusion Development Agreement
ESRF: The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
(each contestant will visit one of the above)

Country	Name of contestant	Field	Title
France	Nicolas Porcher, Guillaume Romeu and Francois Tissot	Physics	Development of an atomic force microscope

EMBL: The European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Country	Name of contestant	Field	Title
Lithuania	Julius Bogomolovas	Medicine	Viscotoxins isolation and cytotoxity

ESO: The European Southern Observatory

Country	Name of contestant	Field	Title
Switzerland	Barbara Burtscher	Physics	Observations of the comet 153P/Ikeya-Zhang

ILL: The Institut Laue-Langevin

Country	Name of contestant	Field	Title
Latvia	Martins Brics	Physics	Thin films of nickel phthalocyanine as ozone sensors

In addition to the prizes mentioned above, several Irish organisations have provided a number of special prizes.

Science Foundation Ireland
Awarded to the project that demonstrates outstanding work in biotechnology or information and communications technology
Name(s)	Country	Project Title
Roland Bauerschmidt	Germany	Internet access for guests
Discover Science & Engineering
Awarded to the project that demonstrates outstanding work in biotechnology or information and communications technology
Name(s)	Country	Project Title
Cleo Bertelsmeier	France	Aerobic sport to music: more performance – less backbone problems
Intel
Awarded for the best use of technology in the research, development and presentation of a project.
Name(s)	Country	Project Title
Alexander Siritsa	Russia	The expansion of algebraic structures: a comparative analysis and computer realisation
Marcel Kolodziejczyk	Poland	A counterfeit coin problem
Analog Devices
Award to an individual or group for outstanding work exhibited in technology
Name(s)	Country	Project Title
Zsofia Dory	Hungary	An electric shopping cart and scooter trailer
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Award for the best Medicine, Biomedical Science or Health-Related project.
Name(s)	Country	Project Title
Tehila Lavi, Reut Cohen, Reut Suliman	Israel	Issues in ovarian freezing for fertility preservation
Marine Institute
Award presented to the project which best demonstrates the potential and real benefits of science to society and the marine sector
Name(s)	Country	Project Title
Dearbhla Mc Kenna, Maureen O'Sullivan and Brenda Kearney	United Kingdom	Use of parasites as bio-indicators of seawater quality
Institute of Physics
Award presented to the best project with substantial physics content
Name(s)	Country	Project Title
Martin Krssak	Slovakia	Mach’s principle – varying speed of light theory as a new cosmological model.