A complex mathematical project prepared by a Dublin student has won the top prize in the Esat Young Scientist and Technology exhibition 2002. A Dublin team won best group project and students from Co Cork took both runner-up prizes.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, last night presented the top awards at the exhibition, which continues until 5.30 p.m. today at the Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge.
Mr Ahern praised all of the participants, congratulating them on their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm. "The country is proud of our young people," he said.
The Young Scientist for 2002 is David Michael O'Doherty (17), a fifth year student at Gonzaga College, Dublin.
David prepared a stunning mathematical project on a previously unsolved problem related to prime numbers.
He found the problem amongst other mathematical challenges in the Encyclopaedia Britannica and decided to attempt a solution as his entry for the 2002 exhibition, his fourth Young Scientist competition.
David felt he had successfully tackled the problem along with two related corollaries but the judging panel believes he still has a way to go with his analysis.
They added however that he merited the award because of his "new approach" to the problem, considered a mathematical challenge that ranks close to Fermat's Last Theorem in terms of difficulty.
They praised the work for its "sophistication" and "maturity" and an invited specialist expert added that David "is a mathematician of promise".
The judging panel acknowledged David as "towering above the general intellectual power" of his peers.
Along with the coveted title as Young Scientist for 2002, David also wins the Esat trophy and a cheque for €1,270.
David will also represent the Republic at the European Union young scientist competition next September in Vienna.
The best group project completed by three fifth years from the Institute of Education in Dublin was a study to discover the minimum number of moves needed to solve a Rubik's cube.
Partners in the project included Ciaran McNamee (17), Louise Sullivan (15) and Edward Naughton (16).
A scientist using a supercomputer calculated in the late 1990s that the minimum number of cube moves was 52, but subsequent work suggested the figure should actually be in the 20s, explained Louise.
The calculation to establish the figure is often referred to as "God's Algorithm" because of its complexity she added.
The team completed 50 pages of computations before determining that the minimum number is 20 if you start from the most complex Rubik's arrangement possible.
"This is absolutely conclusive, we are positive it is 20," stated Ciaran who came up with the project idea. The team pointed out however that a human "would never be able" to solve a Rubik's puzzle in 20 moves because they would not be able to anticipate so many moves in advance. The team members each won a cash award of €635.
Laura Hurley of Mount Mercy College, Co Cork, won the runner-up individual prize with a project entitled "Z12 analysis of musical pieces".
Laura decided to study the mathematics of music, using a numerical system based on 12 rather than 10, matching the number of primary musical pitches. She used a 12-point clock face to study note patterns and chords.
She focused in particular on what she called a Circle of Fifths, a fifth being seven semitones or steps on a piano. The circle provided a graphical display of the patterns of pitches.
Laura was able to use her Z12 and Fifths systems to prove many of the rules of music theory. She suggests they could offer a useful teaching tool for music students.
The runner-up group project winners were also from Cork. Ruth Linehan (17) and Ciara Hickey (16), fifth year students from Coláiste Choilm prepared an intriguing research project looking at the "Geography of the dead".
They undertook an exhaustive geographical study of where people in Cork city choose to be buried, discovering in the process both a north-south city divide and also a strong "proximity" bias.
People seem to prefer burial at a cemetery close to home, but this influence reduces when the person lives a distance from a burial ground.
Each participant in the two runner-up projects receives a cash award of €385.
The Esat Young Science and Technology Exhibition remains open to the public today from 9.30 a.m-5.30 p.m.
Prices are €3 for students and concessions, €6 for adults, €12 for family passes of two plus two and €2 for primary students.
Tickets are available at the door.