Science's new boffin wows show judges with Web-speak
Saturday January 15 2005
Patrick Collison, a transition year student in Castletroy College, developed 'CROMA' which the judges described as a powerful, general purpose language for Web programming.
Patrick scooped the prize from more than 1,000 entries for his new language which helps to to speed up the design of Web applications.
"As the day progressed, I got the feeling I might have won something, but I didn't expect this," he said last night. "I can't imagine being any happier."
President Mary McAleese presented Patrick with a cheque for ?3,000 and a Waterford Crystal trophy.
He also now has the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Moscow next September.
The young scientist said he had always been interested in computers and "I'll probably do something intertwined with computers in the future".
He had no idea how he would spend the money. "It's a nice problem to have, I suppose."
Although his new language would have a high commercial value, Patrick said he was more likely to make it available to everyone free of charge, with the condition that anyone who improved it would also make the improvement available free of charge.
Chairwoman of the judging panel, Angela Keegan, described Patrick's work as "original, imaginative and significant".
"After 41 years, the judges are still impressed each year by the scientific knowledge of these students."
Bill Murphy of Esat BT and BT Northern Ireland said Patrick "just exemplifies the dedication of these students and the efforts of the teachers, parents and schools".
The ?1,500 award for the Best Group went to Francis Wasser and Michael Mulhall from Christian Brothers Synge Street, Dublin, for their 'Numerical solutions of Hamilton's equations' - a chemical, physical and mathematical project.
The ?750 individual runner-up prize went to Kevin O'Reilly from Christian Brothers Grammar (Abbey) School in Newry for his project, 'The feeding behaviour of freshwater shrimp'.
Claire Conaghan, Aine Mulcahy and Sean Liston from Desmond College in Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, took the ?750 runner-up group award for their project on 'Intelligent Cats Eyes'.
Awards were also presented for junior, intermediate and senior levels in four other individual and group categories.
Today is the final day of the exhibition.
- Clodagh Sheehy
