2004 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Royal Dublin Society
Brendan Finucane
Royal Dublin Society

Professor John McCanny, Winner of the 2003 Boyle Medal (courtesy of The Irish Times)

The RDS is focusing on four areas:

a.�bringing topics of scientific interest to the general public
b.�stimulating an interest in science and technology in young people
c.�providing public recognition for the scientific achievements on the island of Ireland and undertaken overseas by Irish people
d.�promoting an interest in the history of Irish science and technology.

Despite the rapid industrialisation of the country and our increasing economic dependence on high technology industry, there is a growing public scepticism of the value of science. In association with The Irish Times, the RDS organises public lectures, by well-known, and sometimes controversial, scientists. The aim of these lectures is to assist towards developing a greater public understanding of science. In 2003, 7500 people attended these lectures.

Ireland, like many western European countries, has witnessed a marked decline in interest in science subjects by students at second level schools. The RDS has a series of 'Science Live' initiatives. These aim to portray science in a new way, by taking it out of the classroom and making it exciting and relevant. Through this initiative, the Society is nurturing a talent in science communication and creating a pool of science demonstration lectures that can be utilised by the educational community.

The RDS, for over 30 years, has co-ordinated selecting and sending first year science students to the London International Youth Science Forum. Through the Forum, the students attend lectures given by distinguished scientists, visit places of exceptional scientific interest, and have the opportunity to meet over 200 students from 50 participating countries. This programme has been important for students at a formative stage in their careers, and assists in putting science in a wider context.

The RDS/Irish Times Boyle Medal Award is given in recognition of scientific excellence and is open to any researcher working in Ireland. The 2003 award was given to Prof. John McCanny of Queen's University for his outstanding achievements in the field of microelectronics.

The Society has embarked on a series of publications Science and Irish Culture, the first of which attempts to answer the question 'why the history of science matters in Ireland'. This is an important but neglected part of our Irish Cultural heritage. A distinguished Editorial Board was approved by the RDS and has worked to produce the first volume of the series, which was launched in Summer 2004.

Contact: Dr Ciaran Byrne; Development Executive, Science & Industry;
Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4;
Tel: (01) 240 7217; E-mail: [email protected]