Munster Express Online

Cathal Ryan (left), De La Salle College and Annabel Higgins, Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School are pictured with Paul O’Brien, Mount Sion at the science parliament event at Waterford City Hall which Cathal and Annabel won through from to a European Science Parliament to be held in Brussels later this year. The Waterford science parliament was coordinated by CALMAST and Comhairle na nÓg. | Photo: John Power

Students from two Waterford secondary schools have been selected to participate in a European Science Parliament to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels later this year.

Annabel Higgins, an 18-year-old student at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School and Cathal Ryan, a 16-year-old student at De La Salle College will represent Ireland and join students from 26 other European countries in Brussels.

The Waterford students were chosen to participate in the European event following a Youth Science Parliament held at Waterford City Hall recently.

The first of its kind in Ireland, the event allowed young people to experience the workings of Waterford City Council while exploring and debating issues in science that will be have an impact on their lives. The event was coordinated by the award-winning Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science & Technology (CALMAST) at Waterford Institute of Technology in association with Comhairle na nÓg and was funded through the European Union Framework 7 (FP7) Science in Society programme.

The youth science parliament took place in the Council chamber and brought together five Waterford schools – Mount Sion; Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School; St Paul’s Community College; De La Salle College and Presentation Convent. Topics discussed included the use of embryonic stem cells; genetic testing and the use of results; genetic links to aggressive behaviour and personalised medicine. Adrienne Clarke from the molecular biology research unit at Waterford Institute of Technology was on hand to answer questions that arose on the day. Issues were discussed and motions prepared and voted on, giving the students the chance to see how elected local government works.

Commenting on the event, Dr Sheila Donegan of CALMAST said: “There was great energy and intelligence to the debates with the young people really engaging with the topics. Their feedback about the experience was very positive and the feeling was that it had given them an opportunity to tease out the various arguments around issues with a scientific and ethical dimension.”

CALMAST’s Eoin Gill added: “Many of the most serious issues facing society have a scientific or technology basis such as climate change, genetics and sustainable energy. It is important that young people are able to fully engage with these issues as they will be the generation that will have to tackle these issues. The youth science parliament has been very successful in enabling young people in Waterford to begin that process. Annabel and Cathal will now fly the flag for Waterford and Ireland in the European parliament event towards the end of this year and they are sure to represent us with distinction.”