I’m a Scientist starts on Monday, two weeks stuffed with creative questioning, exciting live chats and tenser-than-the-X-Factor eviction days!

Let’s meet the scientists competing for votes in the Food Science Zone and the schools who’ll be challenging them…

The Scientists

Anil Jain | Postdoctoral Researcher at Tyndall National Institute

Speeding-up internet by developing state of the art electronics.

Claire O’Connell | PhD Student at School of Physical Sciences/BDI, Dublin City University

I make really tiny glass spheres that glow in different colours which can stick to things that shouldn’t be in your blood, that are very good at hide and seek, and the spheres make them easier to be found.

Leona Mc Girr | PhD Student at Queen’s University Belfast

Forensic Science to Cancer Research -the life of a chemistry PhD student.

Micki Mitchell | PhD Student at Tyndall National Institute

I’m diagnosing illnesses using laser light.

Aisling Kerr | PhD Student at University College Dublin

Fire lasers at really small things and see how they react

The Schools

• Beaufort College, Navan
• Boyne Community School, Trim
• Colaiste Bhaile Chlair, Claregalway
• Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles
• Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin
• Gallen Community School, Offaly
• Grange Community College, Donaghmede
• Inver College, Monaghan
• John Scottus Secondary School, Donnybrook
• Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny
• Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle
• St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise
• The King’s Hospital, Dublin

This zone is funded by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme.