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THERE’S SMALL, THERE’S tiny, and then there’s incomprehensibly tiny.
AMBER, Ireland’s national materials science centre and part of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), went for the latter by etching a 200 nanometre shamrock onto a silver lapel pin.
The shamrock is so small that 500 could fit side by side on a single human hair – for reference a human hair is 100 micrometres wide. The stem is only 5 nanometers wide, meaning it’s 200,000 times smaller than a grain of salt.
The shamrock was etched using AMBER’s Helium Ion Microscope in Trinity College Dublin. It is the only one in Ireland and one of only a few in Europe.
The silver lapel pin will be given to the recipient of the SFI St Patrick’s Day Science Medal, Dr. Garret A. FitzGerald at The Wild Geese Network of Irish Scientists in Washington DC today.
The award is intended to recognise the achievements of a distinguished Irish scientist or engineer, living and working in the US, in particular their contribution back to Ireland.
Dr. FitzGerald’s research focused in the area of biomedical cardiovascular pharmacology – in particular the effects of pain medicines on cardiac systems.
He played a major part in the discoveries relating to the use of low-dose aspirin in preventing cardiac disease and has been awarded the 2013 Grand Prix Scientifique, considered the world’s most prestigious honour for cardiovascular research.
He is currently the McNeil Professor in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at the Perelman School of Medicine, part of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
(Video: AMBER/YouTube)
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Going to be a huge waste in tax payer money on this.
Reminds me of the 100ks euro being spent on reports getting them translated to Irish , yet time and time again nobody ever requests the Irish reports.
Having 20% being Irish is out of step with Irish population, no where near 20% of this country’s population chooses Irish as their first language
@Barry Somers: maybe have them 100% available in Irish only. English translation by request only. Maybe that would encourage people to improve their Irish. What’s your plan? Just give up on your country’s beautiful indigenous language..?
@Diaspora’d: oh I see, you are trying the same tactic as the education system when it comes to Irish by forcing it on people.
Remind me again just how much its failed for decades where people leave school with hardly a word of Irish.
It’s failed utterly in our education system but it seems that doesn’t stop you.
@Barry Somers: Actually it’s because it’s never been properly implemented. Still can’t understand why kids in Ireland are not all educated in all-Irish primary and secondary schools. All-Irish schools are an excellent way to give kids the ability to be bilingual and then be able to pick up other languages too. It’s no hindrance to their overall education and I also can’t understand why Irish people who are proud of their identity would be so willing to let their indigenous language die.
Faoi dheireadh! Dea nuacht don Ghaeilge.
Before any of the nay sayers comment here. This won’t actually cost anything. Asking that a proportion of the messages already sent out by departments be done as Gaeilge makes sense. It’s a shame to see government departments putting out English only messaging on social media
20% employment will be a great encouragement for young people to engage with the language more in school and college.
@Aodhán Ó Deá: Aontaím go hiomlán
Visit the so-called Irish-speaking areas (Dingle is a prime example) and listen to the languages spoken. English, of course, and, depending on the time of year, Polish is next and then German and French. The pretence is embarrassing. The only place I know of that comes remotely close to being a Gaeltacht is Carraroe, Co Galway but it’s nowhere near what it was when I lived there years ago. We didn’t need Gaeltacht signs back then; the predominant language was Irish. Today is quite a different story. Time to face reality. Sad but true.
Ar feabhas!
Irish is Marbh.
Waste of money
More people speak polish than Irish
have your say