Young Scientists Innovate for Africa
The winner of the Irish Aid/Self-Help ‘Science for Development’
Award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2008 was
Tara McGrath, Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny for her
development of a hybrid pressure stove. Chinedu Onyejelem, Editor
of Metro Éireann presented the award on behalf of Irish Aid at the
award ceremony on Friday evening in the RDS.
The Award, sponsored by Irish Aid and Self Help Development, is
designed to encourage Young Scientists to consider the benefits
that scientific innovation can bring to developing countries.
Congratulating the winner, the Minister of State for Irish Aid,
Michael Kitt TD, said:
“I am delighted that this excellent project which highlights the link between environment issues, in particular energy efficiency, and development was successful in the Irish Aid Science for Development’ award”.
Minister Kitt
said:
“By sponsoring this award, Irish Aid hopes to encourage Young
Scientists to examine the issues and challenges facing communities
in the developing world. All branches of the sciences can play a
vital role in creating innovative science and technology that can
be used to improve the lives of people in the poorest countries in
the world. We need to harness this innovation and combine it with a
growing interest among young Irish people in development issues to
deliver real change in our partner countries”.
As part of her prize Tara and her teacher will visit Ethiopia at Easter as part of the Self Help Africa Alive Schools Programme. The trip is funded by Irish Aid.
Note to editors:
Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries. This is the third year that Irish Aid has sponsored this award. It is awarded to the project that demonstrates the most potential for practical application in a developing country. Areas of innovation that projects might examine include food security, clean water, environmental and health issues. The student and teacher behind the winning project will travel to a Self Help project in a developing country to see first-hand the positive impact that technology and innovation can have in development.
Self Help Development is an Irish NGO with operations in five eastern African countries. It encourages communities to help themselves and employs innovative technologies to bring about sustainable progress.
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Press Office
15/1/08
