Students' cutting-edge ideas make big impact

WHEN it comes to bright ideas, how about school science experiments that don't need a laboratory -- or anti-depressants with fewer side-effects.

Yesterday, the Irish postgraduate students behind the cutting-edge research involved were given special recognition for their work.

PhD students Dermot Donnelly (25), from the University of Limerick, and Daniel O'Donovan (26), of Trinity College Dublin, won the Making an Impact competition, run by the Higher Education Authority in partnership with the Irish Independent.

Mr Donnelly's idea of a virtual laboratory where students can perform experiments online is already being used in some schools.

Meanwhile, Mr O'Donovan is working on a new generation of anti-depressants, which will be more effective and have fewer side-effects.

Both men will receive a scholarship of €2,500.

- Katherine Donnelly

Irish Independent