Irish Independent science magazine wins top award

THE Irish Independent's prize-winning science magazine, 'Eureka', has scooped yet another major international award.

A prestigious €50,000 EU prize was last night presented to the two scientists who initially researched and wrote material for the primary school publication - Dr Sheila Donegan and Eoin Gill from the Waterford Institute of Technology.

The magazine, which is edited by the Irish Independent's John Walshe, has already won the World Association of Newspapers prize for young readers.

Yesterday the two Irish scientists, who are directors of Waterford's Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science & Technology (CALMAST) were named as Descartes winners as part of celebrations in Brussels attended by European Council President, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Passion

Institute Director Prof Kieran Byrne said the two believed passionately in the importance of stimulating public interest in mathematics, science and technology and did Trojan work in the whole area of science communication.

Previous winners include author Bill Bryson in 2005 and filmmaker Sir David Attenborough.

Accepting the award Mr Gill said: "We were fortunate to meet John Walshe, Education Editor of the Irish Independent, and develop 'Eureka' with him and learn so much from him.

"One cannot underestimate the impact of putting a publication weekly into the hands of a child," he added.

"One of the results of producing a weekly magazine, with weekly deadlines is that we now have a profound respect for journalists for their craft."