| 2004 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Geraldine Van Esbeck
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Editorial
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Science can have a tremendous impact on the general public and can fire our imagination and inspire future generations. For example, the visit of Prof Stephen Hawking to Dublin during the Summer of 2004 as part of the 17th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation at the RDS generated much public interest. During his address to the conference he revised his thirty year old theory on the information paradox noting that information can be recovered from black holes and that there is no possibility of using black holes to travel to other universes, an assertion that no doubt disappointed many science fiction fans!
An annual visit to the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January illustrates the wealth of talent and innovation that exists at secondary school level throughout the country as well as the interest that the general public has in science. This year it celebrated its 40th Anniversary with over one thousand students from all parts of the island presenting the 480 exhibits, an impressive indicator of the vibrant interest that second level students have in the sciences and how this interest is encouraged and nurtured by their respective teachers and parents. There has also been an increase in the number of professional bodies and organisations taking stands alongside third level institutions as part of a welcome outreach programme to the general public and future generations of scientists.
It has been an exciting year in the world of Irish science as you will read on the following pages. There are many state sponsored and private institutions and organisations working in diverse ways with primary and second level pupils to encourage and promote an interest in science and science related subjects. At third level and beyond there has been a significant increase in the number of new buildings completed and opened throughout the island specifically dedicated to scientific research, innovation and public education programmes, as you will see from a glance at the front cover of this year's edition.
Ireland has become a favoured destination for many Irish researchers returning from abroad as well as attracting a number of non national researchers to work in both new and existing facilities. All of these people contribute to Irish society on many levels. They bring with them a wealth of education and experience, international contacts and expertise, enhancing the Irish research base, laying the groundwork for future discoveries and acting as mentors for their colleagues and generations of students. This has also led to a strengthening of inter-disciplinary, cross-institutional and international co-operation.
Thank you for your continued support this year. I know from the e-mails, letters and phone calls I've received that funding is becoming a more pressing issue and that it is getting harder to find the finance for this type of publication. I appreciate the effort that many of you have made to support this initiative.
Wishing you all continued success for 2005.
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