A 6m aluminium sculpture is being installed at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin to mark the 60th anniversary of DNA, the human genetic blueprint. Dr James Watson and Francis Crick revealed the structure of DNA in 1953. Dr Watson will be in Dublin on April 27th to unveil the piece and to deliver a public lecture on April 28th.
Students are encouraged to enter a science writing competition to mark the event, telling the story of DNA and the related molecule RNA through an illustrated essay or a poem.
There is a prize of €500 for the winner, presented by Dr Watson along with a copy of his book, The Annotated and Illustrated Double Helix. Entries must be from individuals, with only one submission per school. The maximum length is 600 words to be received by March 22nd.
Students in the Republic should post their entries to West Cork Education Centre, Main Street, Dunmanway, Co Cork. Entries from Northern Ireland can be sent to Dr Ultan Power, school of medicine, dentistry and biomedical sciences, Queen’s University Belfast Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL.
Email wcecentre@eircom.net for more information.