Dale gets physical at science olympics in Estonia

Dale, a pupil of Ballymena Academy, was using every ounce of his scientific brainpower last week while competing in the the 43rd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), which was held from July 15 to 24, 2012, in Estonia.

In the gruelling academic challenge, Dale squared up to some of the finest young scientific minds in the world.

And at the time of going to press yesterday (Monday), the 18-year-old was at the closing ceremony and about to discover how he and his fellow members of the Irish National Team had got on.

Dale was among a number of ‘A’ level physics students at Ballymena Academy to be selected by the school to compete in the Northern Ireland heat for the IPhO at Queen’s University.

He won through to the all-Ireland heat and emerged with a coveted place on the four-member Irish national team which flew out to Estonia on July 14 immediately after an intensive five-day preparation course at Dublin City university.

International Physics Olympiads are aiming at propagating natural and exact sciences amongst school students, stimulating young people’s interest in physics, and promoting science education throughout the world by means of international contacts.

Speaking to The Times yesterday, his mum, Lorraine said he’s been thoroughly enjoying the experience.

“Dale’s rang a couple of times and been keeping in touch by Facebook and he’s enjoying himself even though it is intense at times,” she said.

All team members had to sit a five hour theory exam on July 17, followed by a five hour practical a couple of days later, and Dale admitted to his family that the former was particularly tough.

“He said it was ‘ridiculously hard’ and when Dale says something like that, he’s not kidding. They’re also up against some elite competition from the other teams.

“Whatever happens we are just so very, very proud of Dale and it has been a great experience for him.

“It’s organised along the lines of the Olympics with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for the winners and there are lots of events and talks and sight-seeing all laid on while they are there”.

IPhO is one of the oldest and largest International Science Olympiads: the first Olympiad took place in 1967 and the teams from 88 countries registered for IPhO 2012 in Estonia which was held in two locations, the capital Tallinn and the oldest university town in Estonia, Tartu.

Lorraine, her husband Alan and daughter, Jenny, who also attends Ballymena Academy, travelled down to Dublin yesterday and will be welcoming Dale today when he arrives back in the city with his fellow Irish national team members.

“I haven’t seen him for ages - I probably won’t recognise him!” said Lorraine who revealed that her son, who has just completed ‘A’ levels at Ballymena Academy in Maths, Economics, Physics and Media, hopes now to go on to study Physics at Queen’s University.