Mayo Rose Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin has encouraged students to pursue careers in science while attending her first public engagement as winner of the Rose of Tralee competition.
Ms Ní Shúilleabháin, a theoretical physics graduate from UCD, yesterday addressed a session of the BA Festival of Science at Trinity College Dublin. She was participating in a session entitled "Women in Technology and Science: Making a Difference", organised by Women in Technology and Science (Wits), an independent Irish group that promotes women's participation in science, engineering and technology.
Ms Ní Shúilleabháin told attendees her father had encouraged her to stargaze as a child, which sparked her interest in physics and mathematics.
"This is what I really want to do with my year, promoting maths and physics as well as Irish culture," the 22-year old Rose said, adding that she was delighted to speak at the event.
"Aoibhinn is a wonderful role model for young women who are interested in science and physics in particular," said event organiser Dr Sally Cudmore from the alimentary pharmabiotic centre in University College Cork.
"The numbers of students taking science have been dropping, but we need science and engineering graduates to grow a knowledge economy," explained Dr Cudmore. "We need to get those numbers up, promote people in science, and also ensure that women are represented in order to reflect the diversity of available talent." At the session, University College Dublin vice-president for innovation,
Prof Catherine Godson, spoke of the thrill of scientific discovery and owning new ideas. She cited examples from her work on diabetic kidney disease.
"Students who are making career choices often don't realise how much creativity and teamwork is involved in scientific research."
Sarah Flannery, the 1999 Irish and European Young Scientist of the Year, engaged the audience with puzzles her father had used to show her that maths could arise in everyday situations. Her advice to anyone with an interest in science was "just go and do it".
Irish geomorphologist Dr Mary Bourke from the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, said she was driven to pursue research into ice in Martian sand dunes when she saw where women in the United States were boldly going.
"There were women leading missions to Mars. I thought this was just fantastic. They were doing well - I could do it too."
Engineer Anne Graham, who oversaw the construction of Dublin's Millennium Spire, described the many opportunities open to young engineers. She explained how the Spire was erected and the challenges that faced those who designed and built it.
"We hope this session will lead the way for parents, teachers and students to see these successful, talented women as role models for careers in science and engineering in a whole new way," said Wits chairwoman Dr Ena Prosser.
