Science students explain research

A UCD chemistry student has won the inaugural Science Communication Forum lecture competition with a presentation describing research on the human brain. Mr Michael Ryan won yesterday's day-long competition, organised by the RDS as part of Science Awareness Week.

The 12 third-level student researchers involved in the competition were asked to present a 15-minute talk on their areas of research. A key stipulation was that the talk should be understood by a non-technical audience.

Mr Ryan's paper described efforts to create a probe finer than a human hair that could be introduced into the brain. The probe was designed to measure chemicals known as neurotransmitters which enable the brain to function. He won a cheque for £500 and was presented with the first Science Communication Forum medal, struck by the RDS. The second prize award went to Ms Lorraine Hanlon, of the department of experimental physics, also of UCD. Her talk explained a cosmic phenomenon known as cosmic gamma-ray bursts, powerful emissions of gamma rays that come from the far reaches of the universe. She won a £250 prize.

The third prize, £100, was won by Mr Adrian Trenaman, of the computer science department of the NUI Maynooth. The RDS president, Mr Liam Connellan, said: "I believe that today's seminar was historic and has started the process that will continue for the next 100 years."