Jun 10, 2003
Now in its fifth year, Seagate Young Innovators is the largest event of its kind in the UK, attracting almost 200 science, engineering and technology entries from schools and colleges across Northern Ireland and several from the Republic of Ireland. More than 600 young people aged between eight and eighteen will be pitting their wits and ingenuity against the challenges of science, engineering and technology as they display and explain their projects at The Odyssey, Belfast, on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 June.
Looking forward to the two-day festival of bright ideas, Brian Campbell of Sentinus, the competition organisers, says; "Each year we seem to set new records in the numbers of entries and in terms of quality. Clearly we're in for an amazing two days at The Odyssey as the young people put their entries on show and to the test. Events like this one are important for the economic future of the province as they encourage interest among young people in careers in the fields of science, engineering and technology.
"To judge by the high standards and imaginative approaches shown by this year's Young Innovators, Northern Ireland is well on track to produce a great new generation of scientists and engineers. Not only are they remarkably talented but - as their work amply demonstrates - they find fun as well as stimulation in science, engineering and technology."
John Spangler, plant manager at Seagate's Springtown facility, says; "We are delighted to be helping the next generation of young innovators to get turned on to science, engineering and technology. We recognise the importance of encouraging new talent into our sector and believe that enthusiasm for science, engineering and technology starts in the classroom. Early encouragement such as this is vital if Northern Ireland is to develop and maintain a competitive edge in the knowledge-based economy."
The winners of the Northern Ireland competition will go on to compete in UK, European and US competitions.
The event is open to the public and admission is free of charge.
Participating schools, Seagate Young Innovators 2003:
Abbey Grammar School, Newry Alexandra College, Dublin Antrim Grammar, Antrim Aquinas Grammar School, Belfast Ballyclare High School, Ballyclare Banbridge High School, Banbridge Belfast High School, Belfast Belfast Royal Academy, Belfast Brownlow Integrated College, Portadown Campbell College, Belfast Cookstown High School, Cookstown Dalriada Grammar School, Ballymoney Donaghadee High School, Donaghadee Foyle & Londonderry College, Derry Glengormley High School, Glengormley Glenlola Collegiate, Bangor Knockbreda High School, Belfast Lagan College, Belfast Larne High School, Larne Loreto, Dublin Lurgan Junior High School, Lurgan Mary Immaculate, County Clare Methodist College, Belfast Omagh Academy, Omagh Our Lady & St Patrick's, Belfast Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry Our Lady's, Drogheda Portadown College, Portadown Sacred Heart, Newry St Aidan's, Cootehill St Colman's, Newry St Colmcille's High School, Crossgar St Genevieve's, Belfast St Joseph's, Newry St Louis, Dundalk St MacNissi's College, Carnlough St Mary's, Derry St Mary's, Magherafelt St Mary's, Newry St Patrick's High School, Keady St Patrick's, Downpatrick St Patrick's, Dungiven St Paul's, Raheny Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus
NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS:
Seagate is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of hard disc drives for Enterprise, PC and Consumer Electronics applications. The Company is committed to delivering award-winning products, customer support and reliability, to meet the world's growing demand for information storage. Seagate can be found around the globe and at www.seagate.com.
Seagate has two facilities in Northern Ireland, employing over 1,800 people between them. At the Springtown wafer fabrication facility, the Company develops and manufactures the recording heads, which write information onto and read information from the recording disc inside a computer's hard drive. The Company's Limavady facility produces nickel-plated aluminium substrates, the core material on which computer hard disc drives read, write and store digital information.
Seagate and Seagate Technology are registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Sentinus was created as a result of the merger of NISTRO and Industry Matters and is one of the largest providers of business/education activity in the United Kingdom. Through the establishment of partnerships between education and industry the organisation creates an awareness of the exciting opportunities available to young people in science, engineering and technology and on their development in readiness for the world of work.
As part of a national network of SETPOINT's, Sentinus will continue to have a strong focus on young people, from 5 to 19 years old, and enhancing their life skills through challenging and exciting experiences with an industrial focus. Further information can be obtained from Sentinus on Belfast (028) 9036 6682.
