Robert Boyle Summer School 2015

The line-up for this year’s Robert Boyle Summer School includes internationally distinguished speakers. The uniting theme of this years school is the past present and future of scientific communicationThere is also a range of social events including a BBQ at the Lismore Castle Stableyard with local produce and traditional music and dance.

There is a special early bird offer of €50 for all talks or €65 for all talks and BBQ (full price €60 for all talks and €20 for BBQ). 

Booking with Eventbrite here or paste into your browser:  http://robertboyle2015.eventbrite.ie?s=38123176

See www.robertboyle.ie for further info

Robert Boyle (1627 – 1691) was one of the most important figures in the development of modern science. His importance in promoting “the new experimental philosophy” has been highlighted in previous schools. After valid scientific method the other key part of the progress of science is communication of results and ideas. Boyle communicated his ideas by letters and books. In 1665 the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society was established and Boyle became a prolific contributor. The Phil Trans is still published by the Royal Society and is the oldest scientific journal in the world. Scientific journals have evolved over the years into the modern peer-reviewed journal. While this has been a major driving force in modern science there is growing disquiet about problems with the process. It is fitting therefore at the 350th anniversary of the founding of the oldest scientific journal, given Boyle’s important role in the early journal and considering the problems now emerging in the system that the 2015 Robert Boyle Summer School would address the subject of scientific communication past, present and future.

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Christopher Carragher from Our Lady’s Secondary School in Castleblaney has got an asteroid named after him. The Monaghan student had an asteroid named after him after he came second in the World award in the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics category at ISEF 2015 which was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this week. Chistopher got to Pennsylvania after winning the SciFest 2014 national final last November. His project was about aiding people with memory loss. Memory Buddy!

Around 1,700 students from over 75 countries compete at Intel ISEF for a prize fund totalling $4million. Christopher takes away $1,500 prize money. After becoming concerned about the signs of short-term memory loss in a family member, he decided to design an automated system called Memory Buddy.

Memory Buddy

Memory Buddy uses Google Calender to alert the person about appointments and medication via flashing lights, sound and also via the TV. It also includes a remotely controlled medicine drawer to give the appropriate medicine at a specific time – there’s even a feedback facility to notify a carer when medicine has or has not been taken. An organiser for care rotas and appointments also comes with Memory Buddy.

Christopher said the whole experience has been “amazing”. “I met students from all over the world, and heard speeches from famous scientists like Nobel laureates Sir Harold W Kroto and Martin Chalfie. It’s been great to see all the projects that other students from around the world have been working on and it has been brilliant to spend a week together sharing our ideas”.

Sheila Porter of CEO of SciFest said that Christopher Carragher’s project “demonstrates that great science is characterised not by rote-learning and memorisation but by creativity and investigation”.

Christopher was representing Ireland at ISEF and come second in the World in his category is an impressive achievement for him is and a testament to the very high quality of science education in Ireland. "To continue producing the highest calibre of science students in Ireland, we need to celebrate their achievements more, to promote inquiry based learning and encourage students to take their learning beyond the classroom." via thejournal.ie

STEM Education Review Group

The Minister for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock, TD, announced the launch of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Education Review Group, which is expected to prepare a report on STEM education in Ireland over the next six months. 

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