ADDRESS BY MR. NOEL TREACY T.D. MINISTER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMERCE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE YOUNG SCIENCE WRITERS COMPETITION ON TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 1998 AT 12.00 NOON IN THE RDS, DUBLIN

It gives me great pleasure to join you all during a very hectic Science Week Ireland to launch the 1999 Young Science Writers Competition.

I can't help feeling that those young people who have an interest in the combined areas of Science and Journalism are bound for an exciting, rewarding and busy career in the years ahead.

There is no doubt but that the various media in Ireland - whether it's daily Sunday or regional newspapers, television and radio, or the specialist media, have all been paying much greater attention to the whole area of science and technology in recent times.

The Irish Times took the major initiative of appointing a Science Editor and Specialist Correspondent and I think their wonderful lead has recently been taken up by other newspapers. With the co-operation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme, which is managed by Forfás on behalf of our Office of Science and Technology, the Sunday Tribune now carries a weekly page on Scientific and Technological developments in Ireland.

Also, with the support of the Awareness Programme, RTE for the first time ever, will this year feature a major TV documentary series on science; a television series dedicated to new technologies; a weekly radio series on science and they have also featured a science slot on children's TV.

The reasons for this are somewhat obvious. Science and technology now play such an important part in our daily lives that nobody can ignore their impact. Science and technology is helping to develop our agriculture, create new food products, improve our healthcare, increase our efficiency at work and our leisure time and even extends to improving areas of the arts, culture and sport.

Perhaps, more importantly science and technology is constantly driving our economic development through the creation of new high tech products and companies. The development of the required new skills is thus a vital part of our education system ranging from the new science curriculum at primary level, to the quantity and quality of research and training in our third level system.

All of this means that there is a demand among the public for information and understanding about science. Consequently, there is a demand for people who can provide that information in a way which will attract and hold the public attention.

While as a small nation we may often prefer to read, or assume, that scientific breakthroughs take place in Germany, Japan and the US, there is no shortage of such endeavour at home. Proof of this is contained in the extent of activity in this year's Science Week Ireland. Up and down the country over 150 events covering all aspects of science and technology are taking place - evidence again of the public appetite for matters scientific.

The Irish Scientist Yearbook 1998, which I launched last week, is also produced with the assistance of the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme. It contains further demonstration of the quality and quantity of Irish scientific research and thus provides great material for our national media, or our budding science writers, to further their needs and ambitions. Even to glance through the book gives you a strong sense of the breadth of activity in this country and whets your appetite to find out more about some of the areas of research.

The 1998 Yearbook contains a special feature on a range of science and technology activities regarding the problem of drug abuse, including the effects of ecstasy. There is an article on the genetic history and geography of Ireland. There are articles on stress in Irish families and the origins of behaviour in children before they are born. There are features on the "super-aspirin" and the chemistry of the common holly. Other articles describe research into the problems caused by giant hogweed for human health, virtual reality for disabled children and of course there is a special section on our young scientists.

I am delighted that our Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme is supporting this Young Science Writers Competition at a time when we need more and better communication of science, and at a time when we are witnessing a decline in the numbers of Leaving Certificate students taking physics and chemistry. One of the objectives of the Programme is to demonstrate the exciting career options which are now available for people with basic science and technology education including journalism.

Before concluding, I would like to thank the organisers of this event - the RDS and Technology Ireland; the judges in anticipation of their contribution and the regional newspapers of Ireland for their co-operation in publicising the event.

As a Minister from a rural constituency I believe that we have to take science out of the cities, out of the Universities and the major corporations and communicate it at the level of the ordinary person throughout the country. I believe that the regional newspapers, through their co-operation with this competition can help fulfil that aim.

Looking at the range of activities in Science Week Ireland you will see the wide geographic spread mainly due to the efforts of the Universities and Institutes of Technology. This is a source which the regional newspapers could easily use thereby adding a local dimension and relevance to science and technology.

Finally, may I offer the best wishes to all of the entrants, their parents and teachers. I look forward to being with you again early next year to present the winning prizes.