The Munster Regional Final of Debating Science Issues, a schools science debating competition, took place on Wednesday 23rd March at Lifetime Lab, Lee Road, Cork.  Clonakilty Community College battled it out with Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire for their place in the National Finals.  The confident team from Coláiste an Phiarsaigh persuaded a panel of judges, which included scientists and a journalist, that “the procurement and use of embryonic stem cells for scientific research is unethical”. 

DSI 2011 Munster winners Caoimhe Ní Ciaráin and Oisín Brady Bates with Aoife O'Donoghue Tyndall National Institute

Debating Science Issues is a national Science Debating Competition co-ordinated by research and discovery centres on the island of Ireland and is funded by the Wellcome Trust.  The competition encourages young people to engage in debate on the cultural, societal and ethical implications of advances in biomedical science.  Debates in the Munster region are being co-ordinated by the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) and Tyndall National Institute.  Munster schools taking part in the competition initially received 3hour workshops for a group of students to facilitate a discussion forum on the ethical issues raised by either Genetically Modified Food (delivered by the APC) or Nanotechnology (delivered by Tyndall).  Schools teams then debate a motion related to the initial workshop in the regional heats.  From there, the debating motions are circulated so that students debate on an array of controversial topical issues including stem cell research, genetically modified food, health and self testing, nanotechnology, vaccination, and animal testing. 

 
Debating Science Issues  2011 Munster Finalists and Teachers

Participating teacher Sian Joyce from Coláiste an Phiarsaigh said of the initiative “It is a fantastic opportunity to discover the many facets to a career in science whilst also introducing the students to valuable skills such as public speaking and scientific research methods”.  “It is great to see the students’ confidence in discussing contemporary scientific issues grow as the competition progresses” said Aoife O’Donoghue, Tyndall Outreach Officer. 

Debaters in the Munster Regional Final were challenged by judges, fellow students, teachers and audience members to defend their argument.  The winning team from Coláiste an Phiarsaigh will go through to the national finals which will take place in the Science Gallery in Dublin on 14th April 2011.  Munster has a strong record in the national finals with students from St Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom, having won the national final of the competition in 2009 and Ballincollig Community School winning the first national final of the competition in 2008.

Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire Speakers: Caoimhe Ní Ciaráin and Oisín Brady Bates supported by a team of researchers from their 4th & 5th year classes.Teacher: Ms Sian Joyce

Clonakilty Community College Speakers:  David Ryan and Niall Finn supported by a team of researchers from their 4th year class. Teacher: Ms Mary Collins

Judges

• Dr Andre Toulouse, College Lecturer in Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC
• Dr Deirdre Madden, College Lecturer in Medical Law & Ethics, Law Dept, UCC 
• Fiachra O Cionnaith, Reporter with the Irish Examiner

For further details please contact:

Aoife O'Donoghue

Tyndall Outreach Officer

Tyndall National Institute, UCC

Tel:  +353 21 490 4181

Mob: +353 87 6609079

Email: aoife.odonoghue@tyndall.ie