Physics Postgraduate triumphs at Trinity Science Speak

Posted on: 17 April 2007

Trinity College Dublin physics postgraduate, Shane Bergin from Newbridge, Co Kildare won the inaugural Trinity Science Speak event held in Trinity College Dublin  on April 16th last  with his talk, ‘Carbon Nanotubes: Problems & Solutions’.  On awarding Shane with his winning prize of a DELL Latitude laptop, chair of Discover Science & Engineering, Leo Enright who was chair of the judging panel, commented on the  high standard of all the six participating candidates and their skill in communicating science to a general audience.

Organised by Trinity College’s Faculty of Science, the event involved six postgraduate students presenting their research to a judging panel and general audience. Candidates aim to convey their research in ordinary language without scientific jargon. The event offers postgraduates an opportunity to consider some of the societal aspects of their work and how they may best convey this to a non-technical audience. 

Runner up Paul Byrne, geology postgraduate  and also a Kildare man, received a digital camera from Ergo for his talk, ‘Giant Fish Scales on Mars’. The judging panel noted the difficult decision in selecting a winner and wanted to acknowledge the fantastic achievement of all the speakers on the evening. The speakers included;

Aine Murphy, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Multiple Sclerosis – Made Simple
Jane Chadwick, Department of Geology, Hot Rocks: Something Stirring in Java Indonesia
Suzanne Cloonan, School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Mind altering drugs: Ecstasy for us, agony for cancer.
Emma Siddall, Department of Zoology, Warning! Do not eat. How toxic insects advertise to predators

In addition to Leo Enright the judging panel included: Abdul Abubakar, the 16-year-old secondary student, CBS, Synge Street and 2007 BT Young Scientist winner; Ella McSweeney, producer of science programmes, RTE Radio; Michael John Gorman, Director of Science Gallery at TCD and David Kelly; Director of Kendlebell (Ireland).

Shane will go on to represent TCD at the intervarsity Science Speak competition this May 3rd in the RDS, organised by the Irish Universities Promoting Science