Newtown N.S. runners up at Intel Mini Scientist

Minister Damien English with Ashley Dunne, Koby Fowler and their teacher Mary Cook-McCarthy from Newtown National School, Newtown, Enfield, Co Meath. Ashley and Koby were runners up at the Intel Mini Scientist National Final with their project “How To Fight Kids Obesity” in Trinity College Dublin.

Minister Damien English with Ashley Dunne, Koby Fowler and their teacher Mary Cook-McCarthy from Newtown National School, Newtown, Enfield, Co Meath. Ashley and Koby were runners up at the Intel Mini Scientist National Final with their project “How To Fight Kids Obesity” in Trinity College Dublin.

Newtown National School, Enfield, represented Meath at the prestigious Intel Mini Scientist Exhibition in the Science Gallery of the Naughton Institute of Trinity College Dublin.  Meath West TD and Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation Damien English was on hand to preside over the Awards Ceremony and meet the pupils, teachers and parents involved.

Speaking at the event, Minister English stated: “I want to commend all of the students who took part in the Intel Mini Scientist Competition, especially Newtown National School from near Enfield  who earned the Grand Finalist runners-up position for their project ‘How to Fight Kid’s Obesity’.”

“The record breaking success of the event this year speaks for itself. International studies show that when students compete in events like this, not only does their performance in
examinations improve, but so too does their confidence in their ability to do science and the enjoyment they derive from participating.”

Minister English continued: “I would like to acknowledge the work of the teachers in Newtown National School, and nationwide. Without their voluntary contribution events like the Intel Mini Scientist Exhibition simply would not take place.  Your work in encouraging your students to participate in the first instance, listening to their ideas for projects, ensuring that they remain on track, and facilitating research, both within and outside of the school, are all key in ensuring that the projects reach completion.  Participation in events
such as this ensures that learning does not end at the classroom door.

“It makes the economically vital Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects more relevant to young peoples’ lives, and exposes them to the excitement associated with discovering new ways of thinking and learning.  In exposing students to such experiences, you embrace what is, according to Einstein, the supreme art of the teacher; to awaken
joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Concluded Minister English

The Intel Mini Scientist Exhibition is a competition for Primary school students in which they develop science related projects which are exhibited at fairs within their own schools. Winning projects selected at this school level exhibition then go on to take part in the Mini Scientist Regional Final event with the possibility of continuing on to the Grand Final event. The competition, which is open to 4th, 5th and 6th class students, supports the Primary Science curriculum, is a great way to encourage enthusiasm and practical learning in the area of science.  This year saw a record-breaking number of entries, with just over 5,500 students from 92 schools participating, making this Ireland’s largest primary school science fair programme.

STRONG MEATH CONNECTION AT LAUNCH OF WORLD FIRST BONE REPAIR TECHNOLOGY

At its Industry Day to celebrate its first year in operation, AMBER
unveils new technology that helped an injured Meath racehorse Annagh
Haven return to its winning ways

AMBER, the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) funded materials science
centre, hosted in Trinity College Dublin, unveiled a new bone repair
technology on January 20th last, which has led to an injured racehorse
Meath from the stables of Larry Mulvaney, Oristown, Kells returning to
its winning ways after a successful jaw reconstruction.  The
announcement, which received national publicity, was made at AMBER’s
Industry Day, held to mark its first anniversary, which was officially
opened by local Meath West TD and Minister for Skills, Research and
Innovation Damien English, and which brought together a number of
AMBER’s industry partners.

The patented bone repair technology was developed by a team of AMBER
Researchers within the Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG) in the
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) led by Professor Fergal
O’Brien, Deputy Director of AMBER. It consists of collagen and
hydroxyapatite, components native to bone, formed into a 3D porous
‘scaffold’ which acts as a bone graft substitute.  Bone cells and
blood vessels ‘cling’ to the scaffold, allowing for new tissue
regeneration.

This bone repair technology (known as HydroxyColl) will be brought to
market by RCSI spin out company, SurgaColl Technologies.  Regulatory
approval for human use is forecast in the coming months and
implantation in patients suffering from large bone defects planned
this year.

Speaking at the event, Damien English, local Meath West TD and
Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation said “It has been a very
successful first year for AMBER, this exciting technology is another
example that shows that Irish research is at the leading edge of
material science worldwide.  Material science underpins a wide range
of market opportunities that have the greatest potential to deliver
economic return through enterprise development and employment growth
in Ireland. I congratulate Professor O’Brien, his team and
collaborators at AMBER for this breakthrough solution that could have
real application in the veterinary sector and which could ultimately
improve the lives of thousands of people also.”

The first clinical use of the HydroxyColl was on a 2 year old
thoroughbred filly Annagh Haven that had a large swelling in her jaw
caused by a complex aneurysmal cyst.  As a result of the cyst, the
bone in the filly’s jaw was at risk of fracture and she was unable to
chew adequately. The outcome is generally poor for aneurysmal cysts
and euthanasia of the animal often necessary.

The procedure was carried out by Dr. Florent David at University
College Dublin’s Veterinary Hospital who removed the cyst and
implanted sheets of the scaffold. The procedure has enabled repair of
the bone tissue followed by restoration of normal bone shape and
function.  Since surgery, the horse, Annagh Haven, has returned to
racing and has won or been placed in 6 of her races to date.

Visit to Science Foundation Ireland Ireland

Today, Thursday 15th January, as Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, I visited Science Foundation Ireland HQ at Wilton Park House to join Professor Mark Ferguson in launching SFI’s review of 2014 and outlining of plans for 2015.

You can see coverage and commentary of the event on the RTE website below…

http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0115/672804-research-minister-says-science-spend-has-to-rise

It’s clear that 2014 was a very productive and busy year for the agency and that 2015 promises to be equally so for SFI, the research community and for your industry partners.

We have begun the process to put in place a new Government strategy for science and technology for Ireland.

The Government continues to be focused on implementing the Action Plan for Jobs. Integral to this, is building upon the major achievements and investment in scientific research we have realised over the past decade.

A key element of SFI’s strategic plan – Agenda 2020 is the investment under the SFI Research Centres programme, which has to date seen an investment of €355 million in Government funding and which has attracted €190 million commitment in industry funding.

The scale of investment in the SFI Centres programme, along with continued support through Budget 2015, is evidence of the Government’s commitment to supporting science, technology and innovation in Ireland, and to helping our academic institutions and researchers to leverage funding to attain additional funding streams.

These 12 SFI Research Centres of scale and excellence have multiple industry partners including both multinational companies and SMEs. They are focused on strategic areas of importance to Ireland – Pharma, Big Data, Medical Devices, Nanotechnology/Materials, Marine Renewable Energy, Food for Health/Functional Foods, Perinatal Research, Applied Geosciences, Software, Digital Content, Telecommunications and Medical Devices etc.

By establishing a collaborative research ecosystem with a focus on excellence and impact, we are also positioning Ireland’s researchers to compete effectively for EU funding, through Horizon 2020 research programme.

As you will be aware, this is a €1billion research fund that Irish researchers, institutes and enterprises can target.

We have a good track record in this space, having secured €600 million in funding through Horizon 2020’s predecessor FP7. However we are now more ambitious – and I’m pleased to see that SFI’s plans are geared towards supporting the delivery of these targets.

I was particular pleased to see the numbers applying, being short-listed and securing funding from European Research Council programmes increasing – the success in the Starting Grants at the end of last year was very positive.

I am delighted to see that SFI has a suite of programmes to support researchers at different stages for their career – from early career researchers to large scale centres. The recent renewal of the partnership with the HRB and the Wellcome Trust was also a positive for Ireland’s biomedical research community.

Having visited the BT Young Scientist Exhibition last week it is important that we continue to highlight the achievements of our researchers, explaining what they do for the public, as well as presenting research information in a tangible, attractive and engaging way.

We are making inroads in this regard. In this year’s Leaving Certificate results, there were 27% of students sitting higher level maths and significant increases in the numbers of students opting for science, technology, engineering and maths linked courses.

First preference applications to Science courses in 2014 increased by almost 8%; engineering also rose to 3,215 applications and technology courses rose to 13,608 applications.

I know that the Smart Futures programme managed by SFI Discover will be working with partners in industry and HEIs to encourage more young people to look at STEM career options.

Minister English praises 2015 Meath BT Young Scientists Exhibition entrants

Local Minister and Meath West TD Damien English today (Wednesday 7th January) visited the 2015 BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin and he had great praise for the Meath based projects that made the finals. Minister English, who has special responsibility for Skills, Research and Innovation, took time out to visit the seven project teams from the four qualifying Co. Meath Secondary Schools.

Minister Damien English & Peter Evans of BT join Aoife O‘Donnell & Georgina Dillon of St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne at the 51st BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS

The Meath schools to qualify for the finals of the BT Young Scientist were St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan; St. Oliver Post Primary School, Oldcastle; St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne; and four projects from Loreto, St. Michael’s in Navan.

Minister Damien English & Peter Evans of BT join Tom Fitzgerald, Conor Maguire, Joe Fitzgerald & Ms. O’Sullivan (teacher) from St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan at the 51st BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS

“In its 51st year, the BT Young Scientist Exhibition is a national institution at this stage. Its impressive young entrants, including the seven very dynamic teams from Co. Meath whom I met this year, contribute enormously to the important promotion of Science, Maths and related disciplines in our school communities and amongst the general population both young and old” Minister English said.

Minister Damien English & Peter Evans of BT join Emma McCabe, Zoe Maguire & Edel Campbell of St Oliver Post Primary, Oldcastle at the 51st BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS

“The seven competing projects from Co. Meath are a huge credit to themselves, to their parents and families, and to their teacher mentors who contribute so much time and energy both in school and outside of it. Their projects, which I enjoyed viewing in the RDS, make a big contribution to their chosen category areas of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Chemical Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Technology and Biological and Ecological Sciences”

Minister English concluded by saying “The promotion of Science, Maths and related disciplines in our Schools and Colleges is vital to the continued economic development of our country and key to our young people enjoying high end jobs that are both financially rewarding and career fulfilling.  Time and again major foreign investors in this country highlight our young, educated population as a key factor in their decision to locate here.  This momentum and quality must be maintained, and events like the BT Young Scientist help this momentum”