Young Scientists of the Year

11-01-2020 12:24PM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

It's a pity they don't run it on the Saturday as well, attendance would be huge, and interested adults could go.
It's a bit of an ask to take your child out of school, and take a days leave from work yourself, to get to see the projects.
Went about 3 years ago, really enjoyed it and was surprised to see the number of agri based projects.

Why would that be a surprise ?

We are still a rural country and there are loads of students in schools in areas where agri would be a big part of the local economy and day to day life.

HappyAsLarE · 11-01-2020 12:24PM

Martina1991 wrote: »

There are 4 categories in YSOTY.
1. Biological and Ecological science
2. Chemical physical and mathematical science
3. Social and behavioural science
3. Technology

No. 3 is for the stupid scientists.

11-01-2020 12:35PM

NEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDDDDSS!!!!!

vriesmays · 11-01-2020 12:45PM

y0ssar1an22 wrote: »

I think it was a statistical analysis on gender stereotyping amongst 5 to 7 year olds. Christ! I'm sure 99.99% of them only know boys and girls. Some scientists should take note

That would be sociology and that's about as scientific as astrology.

Nekarsulm · 11-01-2020 01:18PM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

[/b]
Why would that be a surprise ?

We are still a rural country and there are loads of students in schools in areas where agri would be a big part of the local economy and day to day life.

Very true, I suppose one aspect leading to my surprise was simply the location, Dublin 4, and secondly the fact that as 45% of the population live in Dublin, and a fair % live in other urban centres.

MrAbyss · 11-01-2020 01:18PM

TheValeyard wrote: »

Did I hear that over 60% of this years projects were environmental related? Could be something in that lot that could be beneficial for society.

or just cashing in for popularity sake. I bet the teachers told the girls to wear pigtails and scowl like Greta so as to improve their chances.

vriesmays · 11-01-2020 01:33PM

These kind of social science experiments give different results depending on the era. Several famous psycholgy tests from a few decades back now give conflicting anwers becasue society has changed. That why it's not real science. You mix vinegar and bleach together; same results as when done back in the 1950s.

Potential-Monke · 11-01-2020 02:12PM

Having a gander through the other entries/winners of other categories, and it just makes the winners seem like they just ticked the right boxes: https://btyoungscientist.com/results/

TheAnalyst_ · 11-01-2020 03:02PM

Interestingly from the same school as the infamous cheat from two years back.

mikhail · 11-01-2020 04:42PM

TheAnalyst_ wrote: »

Interestingly from the same school as the infamous cheat from two years back.

I was talking with a fella who's been a judge on it. He mentioned several schools in Cork are enthusiastic supporters of this, and matchmake students with mentors from the universities and elsewhere when it's called for. I asked him about the case you referred to, and he was satisfied that entries like that get grilled pretty well to make sure they did it themselves. He recalled some examples of projects that were very impressive themselves, but where the student was weak under questioning and was marked down. I am not without some reservations, but I don't think it's reasonable to refer with certainty like that to some kid as a cheat just based on the fact that his ma mentored him.

vriesmays · 11-01-2020 04:45PM

If these two 'scientists' surveyed a similar age group in a school in Asia or South America the results would be different.

Doctors room ghost · 11-01-2020 04:46PM

vriesmays wrote: »

If these two 'scientists' surveyed a similar age group in a school in Asia or South America the results would be different.

If they tried that sh1te hawking in South America they would probably be shot.

vriesmays · 11-01-2020 04:57PM

Despite awareness of the lower percentage of females relative to males pursuing study and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, “we still do not understand exactly why this is the case,” said head judge in the category Prof Joe Barry.

It's because the really smart people who are interested and capable in these subjects are mostly men. The rest study social science.

Martina1991 · 11-01-2020 05:10PM

vriesmays wrote:

It's because the really smart people who are interested and capable in these subjects are mostly men. The rest study social science.

Well thats a load of sexist sh*te.

solerina · 11-01-2020 05:14PM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

It's a pity they don't run it on the Saturday as well, attendance would be huge, and interested adults could go.
It's a bit of an ask to take your child out of school, and take a days leave from work yourself, to get to see the projects.
Went about 3 years ago, really enjoyed it and was surprised to see the number of agri based projects.

They do run it on a Saturday as well...it’s on today !!!!!

11-01-2020 06:11PM

The standard of underage football is atrociously bad too. What's the point

Edgware · 11-01-2020 06:13PM

MrAbyss wrote: »

Real science or woke back slapping for middle class teens?

"Woke"? Oh you're so cool.
Middle class teens?
If you check back the list of winners over the years you will see as many winners coming from State schools as private schools.
Its fools like you that think education is wasted on people coming from low and middle income homes or maybe you have a big chip on your shoulder equal to the empty space between your ears

Potential-Monke · 11-01-2020 06:40PM

I'd imagine it was more of a go at real science vs bssocial science. Compare the winning group from this year to last year for example:

2020 - A statistical investigation into the prevalence of gender stereotyping in 5-7 year olds and the development of an initiative to combat gender bias.

2019 - Optimizing The Simulation Of General Quantum Circuits

11-01-2020 06:49PM

I must admit to rolling my eyes when I saw the topic alright.. Like, really, for the people running it to bring it into disrepute by just pandering to the fad of the day is quite sad..
I saw the clip of them going up to collect the award..they looked like they thought they were at a Justin beiber concert or something..

Dr. Bre · 11-01-2020 06:52PM

No doubt they wil be banging on about climate change

Potential-Monke · 11-01-2020 07:31PM

Just for the craic, here's the headings of all the previous winners in the 2010's:

2018
Simon Meehan
Coláiste Choilm, Cork
‘Investigation of the antimicrobial effects of both aerial and root parts of selected plants against Staphylococcus aureus.’

2017
Shane Curran
Terenure College, Dublin
‘qCrypt: The quantum-secure, encrypted, data storage solution with multijurisdictional quorum sharding technology’

2016
Maria Louise Fufezan and Diana Bura
Loreto Secondary School – Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
‘An Investigation into the Effects of Enzymes used in Animal Feed Additives on the Lifespan of Caenorhabditis Elegans’

2015
Ian O’Sullivan and Eimear Murphy
Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co. Cork
‘Alcohol consumption: Does the apple fall far from the tree?’

2014
Paul Clarke
St Pauls College, Dublin
‘Contributions to cyclic graph theory’

2013
Ciara Judge, Emer Hickey and Sophie Healy-Thow
Kinsale Community School, Co. Cork
‘A statistical investigation of the effects of Diazotroph bacteria on plant germination’

2012
Eric Doyle and Mark Kelly
CBS, Synge Street, Dublin 8
‘Simulation accuracy in the gravitational many-body problem’

2011
Alexander Amini
Castleknock College, Dublin
‘Tennis sensor data analysis’

2010
Richard O’Shea
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Blarney, Co. Cork
‘A biomass fired cooking stove for developing countries’

On a side note, some of the students from the winners in the 60's are, eh, not very young looking! https://btyoungscientist.com/past-winners/

MadYaker · 11-01-2020 07:35PM

MrAbyss wrote: »

Real science or woke back slapping for middle class teens?

Do you not get tired of the constant soap boxing no? Always looking for something to find fault with. It must be exhausting.

KWAG2019 · 11-01-2020 07:40PM

There needs to be two YS competitions. One for the Social Sciences and one for the more traditional Maths, physics etc. I know that a statistical analysis was involved as it is across the Social Sciences but the focus in a more traditional YS competition would be on theory etc of statistics.

Congrats to the winners this year.

AlekSmart · 11-01-2020 07:52PM

Back to the future...?

2010
Richard O’Shea
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Blarney, Co. Cork
‘A biomass fired cooking stove for developing countries’

This looks like a fine strong (and useful) piece of Scientific work....still relevant a decade on too.

Church on Tuesday · 11-01-2020 07:59PM

Looks like someone was **** at Science in school.

Hector Savage · 11-01-2020 09:07PM

Pseudo scientific nonsense, what was their sample size of 5-7 year olds ?
What was their relationship to them ?

- Draw an engineer, a stick figure without long hair!!! it's a man !!! they are forced to believe that all engineers are men!!!!
No doubt they have a rabid man hating feminist science teacher too ....

Pity, the kids are obviously talented and intelligent, but they have been manipulated here ...

Mad_maxx · 11-01-2020 11:20PM

no wonder europe is in decline

ILoveYourVibes · 11-01-2020 11:21PM

MrAbyss wrote: »

Real science or woke back slapping for middle class teens?

You know it's for children, right?

Irish Guitarist · 11-01-2020 11:41PM

They asked a group of children to draw an engineer.

Prof Barry said one of the most striking findings emerging from the research was that 96% of boys drew a male engineer while just over 50% of girls drew a female engineer.

Do five to seven year old children even know what an engineer is?
If you had asked me to draw an engineer at age five I would probably have drawn something like this.

11-01-2020 11:47PM

If you could spell engineer at 5 years of age you were doing alright..

Young Scientists of the Year

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