Tánaiste welcomes the hosting of the 2004 EU Young Scientist Competition by Ireland

The EU Young Scientist Contest is being held in Ireland for the first time in September 2004. It will showcase the talents of national science contest winners from over forty countries including EU member states, Russia, Korea, Japan, China and the United States. In total, over 100 of the best youth science projects from around the world will be displayed in Dublin.

An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney, TD supported Ireland's bid to stage the event from the outset. Speaking at the announcement, an Tánaiste said: `This competition will highlight and celebrate the achievements of young people across many fields of science and promote the opportunities that science can offer to our young people. It will contribute to a greater public appreciation of the role science plays in every aspect of our daily lives.'

The weeklong exhibition, which is to be held at O'Reilly Hall, University College Dublin will be the global youth science event of 2004 and is expected to bring over 500 delegates to Dublin city and attract thousands of visitors.

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the national foundation for excellence in scientific research, is the national sponsor of the 2004 EU Contest. Commenting on the commitment of SFI to the event, Dr. William C. Harris, Director General, SFI said: "This event not only attracts the finest young scientific minds from across Europe, but also draws attention to the outstanding opportunities available in science and engineering to other students who have yet to discover how exciting this work can be. SFI is proud to support this wonderful forum for rewarding, harnessing and electrifying the creativity and powers of scientific exploration in young people that Ireland and Europe so require today."

The campaign to secure the event for Ireland was led by Andrina Moore, Managing Director of Moore Events & Marketing, who has managed the Esat BT Young Scientist Exhibition since 1998 with support from Dr Tony Scott, who has championed the national young scientist exhibition in Ireland since 1965.

Andrina Moore said that the SFI support was an excellent way of enhancing Ireland's position as a hot bed of young scientific thought and talent: "The SFI's support of the EU Contest for Young Scientists is very welcome given that it is a `think-tank' for not only Europe but also the world's leading young scientists. Furthermore, the event provides an excellent platform to encourage young people to consider careers in science, technology and research".

Ireland has a good track record of success in the European Union Young Scientist Contest. Since 1989, Ireland's young scientists have received top honours on nine occasions, most recently in 1999 when Cork student, Sarah Flannery, won gold in Athens for her project on cryptography.

Note to Editors

About the EU Young Scientist Contest

The EU Young Scientist Contest is the successor to the Philips Contest, which ran from 1968 until 1988 and brought together the winners from National youth science contests. In 1989, the European Commission decided to support the Contest to encourage and promote science and technology as attractive careers to young people.

Since 1989, more than one thousand students from all over Europe and beyond have been exhibiting their promising research work at European level. Only projects which have won a first prize at a national young scientist competition, can participate in the EU Contest. Thus it represents the ultimate goal for more than 30,000 young scientists who compete annually in their national contests.

The first EU Contest took place in Brussels in 1989. Since then, the event has been hosted in Copenhagen, Zurich, Seville, Berlin, Luxembourg, Newcastle upon Tyne, Helsinki, Milan, Porto, Thessaloniki, Amsterdam, Bergen, Austria, and Budapest.

Visit the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/youngscientists/index2.htm

About SFI

On behalf of the Irish government, SFI is investing €646 million between 2000-2006 in academic researchers and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading-edge technologies, and competitive enterprises in the fields underpinning two broad areas, biotechnology and information and communications technology. SFI makes grants based upon the merit review of distinguished scientists. SFI also advances co-operative efforts among education, government, and industry that support its fields of emphasis and promotes Ireland's ensuing achievements around the world. SFI made its first grants in 2001, and is now funding more than 138 researchers and research teams based in Ireland with grants that will total some €300 million over the next five years

Visit the website: http://www.sfi.ie/home/index.asp

Media Queries:

For the 2004 EU Contest for Young Scientists

Andrina Moore, Moore Communications,

Tel: 01 8457897 or andrina@mooreevents.ie

For SFI

Seán Murphy

Manager, Communications and Public Relations,

Science Foundation Ireland

Tel: +353 1 607 3249

E-mail: sean.murphy@sfi.ie

ENDS