This article is from page 26 of the 2007-12-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
ENNISTYMON is celebrating a new champion this week with the news that a fifth year student in Scoil Mhuire has received a bronze medal in the Irish qualifiers for Europe’s Junior Science Olympics.
Jacklyn Nagle, who comes from Ennistymon, came third in the coun- try in the physics category in the final national trial for a place in the Irish team to compete at the EU-wide competition in Cyprus in May.
Jacklyn was invited to take part in the trails, which were held earlier this month in Dublin City University, because of her high marks in both
science and maths in her Junior Cert. Unfortunately for Jacklyn, only the top two qualifiers in each discipline qualify to represent Ireland at the event, but as first reserve she will be off to Cyprus should any of the other qualifiers be unable to attend.
“I like physics, it would be my favourite science. And I’m also do- ing applied maths outside of school though,” she said.
“The competition was to choose who will represent Ireland in the European Union Science Olympics. You are sent out an invitation based on how well you did in maths and Science in your Junior Cert. Then you can choose to sit an exam in
either biology, chemistry or physics. I chose physics and there was a two- hour exam, then an hour of multiple- choice questions.
“I came in third place and got a bronze medal. But only first and sec- ond get to go to Cyprus for the Euro- pean Championships. So I am the re- serve for the physics. The European Championships are on in May, so if someone can’t make it for any reason Pll be able to go out there and repre- sent Ireland,’ she added.
Not content with a third place in the junior competition, Jacklyn will also try her luck in trails for the under-19 physics world event in January.
“I will also be participating in the
Irish Physics Olympics after Christ- mas. It’s an under-19 competition and it’s just for physics,’ Jacklyn said.
“The people who get chosen from this one go on to the International Physics Olympics, which is just for people who do physics. Not many fifth years take part in this so I’m just really going along to get a feel for it.
“The Leaving Certs know the course but I’m only really starting on it. But it will be good to get in there and see what it’s all about.”