The annual Merville Lay seminars take place this week at the Industry Centre at University College Dublin. This event brings advanced science to the masses as student researchers are forced to explain their work in plain English.
Presentations will be judged on their understandability and there is plenty on offer. There are papers on why oxygen can do harm as well as good, how cancers develop, how the body fights off infection and why stress can inhibit immune system response.
The lectures begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 19th, and the winner will be announced by the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy, at 6 p.m.
N a further step aimed at tackling the potentially serious threat of Zebra mussels to Irish lake eco-systems, wildlife and enterprise, the ESB is co-hosting an international conference with the US research forum, North East Sea Grant, and UCG. It takes place at the Connemara Coast Hotel in Galway from February 19th to 21st.
More information from: UCG Department of Zoology (091524411) or email: tk.mccarthy@ucg.ie
IX UCD students have received £1,000 sterling awards for their contribution to science on campus.
The six are Tony Palmer, Niamh O'Sullivan, Fiona Hoey, Ann-Marie O'Donoghue, Colette Relihan and Peter Butler.
The awards were open to all postgraduate research students in the Chemistry Department.
Participants had to write in less than 250 words why they thought that they deserved the award.
The winners were decided by the sponsoring companies in conjunction with the UCD Chemical Society. The awards were not only for academic achievement but also on what the participants personally contribute to life in the department.
The sponsors of the bursaries are Warner Lambert, Schering Plough and Labkem.
Contact Science on Monday by emailing Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor, at dahlstrom@irish-times.ie