Emer Jones, Aged 13, Named BT Young Scientist of the Year 2008

2nd year Student is First Ever Winner from Kerry

Dublin, Friday, 11th January 2008: The BT Young Scientist of the Year 2008 is Emer Jones, a 2nd Year student from Presentation School, Tralee, Co Kerry. Her project entitled, “Research and Development of Emergency Sandbag Shelters” was announced by Minister for Education & Science Mary Hanafin TD and Chris Clark, Chief Executive Officer, BT Ireland at the awards ceremony held this evening at the RDS, Dublin 4. Emer was entered in the Technology category, Junior section.

Minister Mary Hanafin TD accompanied by Chris Clark presented Emer with a cheque for €5,000, a Waterford Crystal trophy and the opportunity to represent Ireland at the 20th European Union Contest for Young Scientists taking place in Copenhagen this coming September.

Chris Clark said “44 years on and the exhibition goes from strength to strength. As the organiser, we invest in this event as it encourages students and schools through the 32 counties to have a passion for science and technology. This year’s winner is a brilliant example of the creativity and ingenuity we set out to find each year through organising this showcase.”

According to the judges, “Emer’s project examined the use of native materials to enhance the stability of emergency sandbag shelters used in disaster relief. Based on the award-winning sandbag shelter developed by Nader Khalili of the Cal-Earth Institute, Emer examined what materials could help the shelters stand up to earthquakes and high-winds. Emer was able to demonstrate that using wood or bamboo sticks between the layers instead of the normal barbed wire method could deliver the same stability at much reduced cost. This also made deployment of shelters much faster as these materials are more readily available.”

The judges were very impressed with the practical application of Emer’s project in someone so young. “Each year our judges continue to be astounded by the diverse and interesting topics from these second level students,” commented Chairperson of the Judging Panel, Emer Kennedy.

Further awards presented tonight included Best Group named as first cousins, Edel Ryan and Fiona Ryan, from Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, Co Galway for their Social & Behavioural category project in the Intermediate section entitled “Living to Teach or Teaching to Live?.” They received a prize of €2,400 and a BT Perpetual Trophy.

The award for individual runner-up went to Henry Glass from Clongowes Wood College, Naas, Co Kildare for his project entitled “The Detection and Locating of Food by the Slug, Limax pseudoflavus” entered in the Intermediate Section of the Biological & Ecological category. She was awarded €1,200 and a BT Perpetual Trophy.

The runner-up group were named as Ellie Townsend, Lisa O’Sullivan and Ciara McCarthy from Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co Cork. They were awarded €1,200 and a BT Perpetual trophy for their project entitled “Let Rip the Physics of Perforations” entered in the Senior Section of the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical category. The group also won the Intel Travel Award and the Institute of Physics Special Award.

1,128 students competed this week in 500 projects from 31 counties across Ireland. The RDS has already welcomed thousands of visiting students, teachers, parents, and members of the general public this week and look forward to seeing even more tomorrow, Saturday, 12th January 2008. Doors are open from 9.30am to 5pm.

For more information on the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition please visit www.btyoungscientist.ie.
ENDS
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About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services; local, national and international telecommunications services; higher-value broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

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For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

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