Emer Jones
Encyclopedia
Emer Jones is an Irish
student from Tralee, County Kerry
. She was the winner of the 44th Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
in 2008 at the age of thirteen. becoming the competition's youngest ever winner at that time. She was also the first winner from County Kerry and won in the year her school first entered the competition.
Jones is a former student of Presentation School in Tralee. Her father, John, is an engineering
lecturer at the Institute of Technology, Tralee
(ITT) and her mother is a schoolteacher at the local primary school. She has been interested in science from a very young age, once asking for several science books from Santa Claus
as a child. Her project at the exhibition was titled "Research and Development of Emergency Sandbag Shelters". Her intention was to examine how stable the materials used to make these sandbags actually were. She based her research on the sandbag shelter created by the Cal-Earth Institute's Nader Khalili
. She was also encouraged by the scale of recent natural disasters, claiming to want to help humanity with her research. Jones's "practical application" was praised by judges.
Jones won the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS
, Dublin on January 11, 2008. The announcement was made at an evening ceremony in the exhibition hall. Her prize was a €5,000 cheque and a trophy of Waterford Crystal
. Jones was presented with the award by Minister for Education and Science
Mary Hanafin
. Her seven-year-old brother, Robert, was also present. She returned to school the following Monday where a celebration was held marking her achievement. Her town honoured her two months later by making her Grand Marshal
of the 2008 Saint Patrick's Day
parade in Tralee.
She went on to represent Ireland at the 20th European Union Contest for Young Scientists
in Copenhagen
, Denmark
in September 2008. Jones returned to the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at its launch in 2009 to be introduced on stage by Ray D'Arcy
and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
before President of Ireland
Mary McAleese
made an appearance.
She would like to study chemistry
, mathematics
and physics
and work in science.
Jones is also an alumnus of CTYI, the Centre of Talented Youth of Ireland, which accepts students based on exceptional academic ability, and only those in the top 5% intelligence in the country.
In 2011 she scored a maximum of 600 points in her Leaving Certificate Examination and plans to undertake an undergraduate degree in physics at Cambridge University
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
student from Tralee, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
. She was the winner of the 44th Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition , commonly called "the Young Scientist", is an annual competition that has been held in Dublin, Ireland every January since 1965 for encouraging interest in science in secondary and primary schools, currently sponsored by BT Ireland...
in 2008 at the age of thirteen. becoming the competition's youngest ever winner at that time. She was also the first winner from County Kerry and won in the year her school first entered the competition.
Jones is a former student of Presentation School in Tralee. Her father, John, is an engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
lecturer at the Institute of Technology, Tralee
Institute of Technology, Tralee
Institute of Technology, Tralee is a third-level educational institution located in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. It was established in 1977 as the Regional Technical College, Tralee.-General information:...
(ITT) and her mother is a schoolteacher at the local primary school. She has been interested in science from a very young age, once asking for several science books from Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
as a child. Her project at the exhibition was titled "Research and Development of Emergency Sandbag Shelters". Her intention was to examine how stable the materials used to make these sandbags actually were. She based her research on the sandbag shelter created by the Cal-Earth Institute's Nader Khalili
Nader Khalili
Nader Khalili was an Iranian-born architect, writer, and humanitarian who received his philosophical and architectural education in Iran, Turkey, and the United States....
. She was also encouraged by the scale of recent natural disasters, claiming to want to help humanity with her research. Jones's "practical application" was praised by judges.
Jones won the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
, Dublin on January 11, 2008. The announcement was made at an evening ceremony in the exhibition hall. Her prize was a €5,000 cheque and a trophy of Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009...
. Jones was presented with the award by Minister for Education and Science
Minister for Education and Science (Ireland)
The Minister for Education and Skills is the senior minister at the Department of Education and Skills in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Education and Skills is Ruairi Quinn, TD...
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...
. Her seven-year-old brother, Robert, was also present. She returned to school the following Monday where a celebration was held marking her achievement. Her town honoured her two months later by making her Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal is a ceremonial, military, or political office of very high rank. The term has its origins with the word "Marshal" with the first usage of the term "Grand Marshal" as a ceremonial title for certain religious orders...
of the 2008 Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
parade in Tralee.
She went on to represent Ireland at the 20th European Union Contest for Young Scientists
European Union Contest for Young Scientists
The European Union Contest for Young Scientists is a science fair, initiated by the European Commission. It is a part of the European Union Framework Programmes on Research, and is managed by the Directorate General for Research in the European Commission....
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in September 2008. Jones returned to the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at its launch in 2009 to be introduced on stage by Ray D'Arcy
Ray D'Arcy
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show, on Today FM...
and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin is an Irish schoolteacher, television personality, and singer from County Mayo, who won the 2005 Rose of Tralee contest. Ní Shúilleabháin graduated with a first-class honours degree in theoretical physics from University College Dublin in 2005 and won the Mayo Rose...
before President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
made an appearance.
She would like to study chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and work in science.
Additional achievements
In September 2009, Jones scored 12 A's in her Junior Certificate, the highest score in County Kerry and joint 1st in the country with nine other students. Five months later, she returned to the Young Scientist Exhibition for the third year in succession, this time for coming second place in a science essay competition.Jones is also an alumnus of CTYI, the Centre of Talented Youth of Ireland, which accepts students based on exceptional academic ability, and only those in the top 5% intelligence in the country.
In 2011 she scored a maximum of 600 points in her Leaving Certificate Examination and plans to undertake an undergraduate degree in physics at Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.