Menu

Laura Grehan

About Laura Grehan

Posts by Laura Grehan:

Winning contestants at IOL 2017 being photographed with their medals and country flags

Dublin’s hosting of International Linguistics Olympiad 2017 comes to a close

, , , , 0

On 4th August 2017, the efforts made by international students in the 15th International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL 2017) were celebrated at the competition’s Closing Ceremony at Dublin City University. Throughout this week-long contest, world-leading students worked both individually and in teams to decipher linguistic codes and put their problem-solving skills to the test. The event was hosted by the ADAPT Centre, and ran from the 31st July to 4th August. During this week 43 teams consisting of 172 students who previously achieved gold medals in their respective national competitions competed for the global prize.

Ireland was represented at this year’s Olympiad by two teams made up of 8 of the country’s brightest problem solvers. These students, aged 15 to 18, travelled to DCU from all corners of the island. Their previous achievements in the All-Ireland Linguistics Olympiad guaranteed these students a place in this prestigious competition. Irish contestants were as follows: Philip Krause from Ashton, Blackrock Co Cork, Eimear Kyle from St Finian’s College Mullingar Co Westmeath, Marco Stango from Newtown School Co Waterford, Tom McAlinden from Aquinas Grammar Belfast, Padraig Sheehy from Gonzaga College Co Dublin, Tristan l’Anson-Sparks from Methodist College Belfast, Cian O’Hara from Holy Family Community School Rathcoole Co Dublin, and Daniel Quigley from Belfast Royal Academy Belfast.

Winners of the individual and team contests were announced at the Closing Ceremony, held in The Helix at DCU. Taiwan’s team TaiTWO were awarded the gold medal for the team competition, with Poland’s Team Ą achieving the silver medal, and Team Slovenia receiving bronze. View the full list of IOL 2017 results

The IOL challenges students to apply logic, computational thinking and problem-solving skills to solve some of the world’s most complex problems in linguistics and language. This year’s contestants were challenged with such tasks as decoding emoji scripts presented to them in Indonesian. The IOL was a key element of ADAPT and SFI’s Problem Solving Initiative, which will culminate in a problem-solving festival open to all members of the public. This festival will be held in Trinity College Dublin on 30th September, and will involve mind-bending puzzles suitable for all ages.

View highlights from IOL 2017 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeThEGttUBU&t=26s and RTE News coverage of the Opening Ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IogK8nIKRgU&t=1s

Registration for the next season of the All-Ireland Linguistics Olympiad will open in September 2017 at www.adaptcentre.ie/ailo. Successful contestants in next year’s AILO will get the chance to compete in the next IOL, which will be held during the summer months in Prague, Czech Republic in 2018.

3879-333-new

Irish Teens Have Home Advantage as Dublin Hosts the 2017 International Linguistics Olympiad

, , , 0

Today forty-four teams consisting of 176 students aged between 14-19 years, representing 29 countries, will compete in the International Linguistics Olympiad 2017 in Dublin. The International Linguistics Olympiad 2017 (IOL 2017) is being hosted by the Science Foundation Ireland-funded ADAPT Centre for Digital Content Technology and it will run from 31 July to 4 August in Dublin City University. Competitors will attempt over the 5 days to win a gold medal for their country and/or an individual medal for their problem solving skills.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the ADAPT Centre, Professor Vincent Wade said, “The ADAPT Centre is delighted to host the 15th International Linguistics Olympiad and to welcome over 350 people – contestants, jury members, team leaders and observers – from over 30 nations to Dublin. These top young problem solvers break boundaries as the competition tests not just linguistic skills but hones their lateral-thinking skills. The IOL inspires students to consider the fascinating range of careers that combine computing, linguistics and languages. I would like to wish Team Ireland the very best of luck this week and hope they encourage you to attend the Family Problem Solving Festival taking place in September

The IOL is an annual international competition that challenges young people to decode unfamiliar languages, many of them little-known or expired languages.  It encourages students to develop their own strategies for solving problems in fascinating languages from around the globe. Students must use their ingenuity to solve puzzles such as deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics, decoding numerical spy codes, and interpreting ancient Mayan poetry. No prior knowledge of linguistics or a second language is required, as even the hardest problems require only logical ability and lateral thinking. The aim of the competition is to develop students’ problem-solving skills and to inspire them to consider the range of careers at the intersection of computing, linguistics and language.

Speaking today Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Strategy and Communications at Science Foundation Ireland, welcomed participants saying “The IOL brings together some of the best young problem solvers and creative thinkers from across the globe. Science Foundation Ireland are delighted to welcome the competitors and their families to Dublin. Problem solving and lateral thinking are vital skills for a wide range of careers, especially in science and technology. Competitions such as the IOL allow young people to learn these skills in a fun, interactive manner, fostering the next generation of problem solvers and innovators. I wish all the competitors the best of luck and hope they will inspire other students to participate in the national competition, the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad, next year.”

Team Ireland comprises Ireland’s top eight second-level students who competed against over 4,000 students nationwide in the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) in order to qualify for the team. Team Ireland members are:

Philip Krause (17), Ashton Blackrock, Cork

Eimer Kyle (16), St. Finian’s College, Mullingar, Westmeath

Marco Stango (19), Newtown School, Waterford

Tom McAlinden (17), Aquinas Grammar, Belfast, Antrim

Padraig Sheehy (17), Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin

Tristan l’Anson-Sparks (15), Methodist College, Belfast, Antrim

Cian O’Hara (17), Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole, Dublin

Daniel Quingley (17), Belfast Royal Academy, Belfast, Antrim.

Speaking today Team Ireland member Eimer Kyle said, “The emphasis that the IOL places on logic and reasoning was certainly its selling point for me. Most of the languages we have to deal with I’ve never even heard of before so it’s really exciting trying to figure out the puzzles. I’m looking forward to cracking puzzles this week, especially in the group challenge. I know it’ll really force us to think creatively and to stretch our minds. I’m also excited to meet the many other young people from around the world who share the same passion and interest I have in problem solving.”

The IOL is an annual competition that challenges students to decode unfamiliar languages – many of them little-known or expired languages.  In past years, students have worked on everything from sign language used by monks to Sanskrit poetry.  They have translated Jaqaru, a language once spoken among indigenous tribes in the Andes, and Iatmül, a language with only 8,400 native speakers.

Team members are selected on the basis of their strong performances in their national contests.  Last year’s IOL 2016 brought more than 180 students from 29 countries to India.  There, Team Ireland participant Pádraig Sheehy secured an Honorable Mention award and he is joining the Irish team again for IOL 2017 to continue his interests in decoding and problem solving.  Last year’s Irish winners also include Claire O’Connor from St. Louis High School with a Bronze Medal, and Dónal Farren from St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny with an Honourable Mention award.

Speaking about his return to the Irish team this year, Páraig Sheehy said. “I first got involved with the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad and the IOL last year when I heard about it in my school, Gonzaga College. It was recommended to me by former IOL contestant and now team leader Luke Gardiner. I quickly developed a love for this form of problem solving. I enjoyed the experience and so was eager to participate in AILO again this year, despite having a Leaving Cert to study for! I am delighted and honored to have made the Irish team again this year, especially now that we are the host nation. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with some of my friends from last year and challenging myself with some of this year’s problems, as well as getting to know my new teammates. Wish us luck!”

The competition is one of twelve International Science Olympiads.  IOL is designed to challenge secondary-school children, and has been growing since 2003.  Curious readers and aspiring students are encouraged to head over to problemsolving.ie, to give some of the past problems a try.

The All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad and Ireland’s participation in and hosting of the International Linguistics Olympiad are key elements of the Problem-Solving Initiative. This two-year nationwide initiative, run by ADAPT and funded by Science Foundation Ireland, aims to foster a new generation of skilled problem solvers for Ireland and to prepare the future leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The initiative will culminate in a free Family Problem Solving Festival in Trinity College Dublin on the 30th September.

Award-winning Mountrath Community School students pictured at the AILO national final 2017

Mountrath Community School Team Announced as Winners of All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad Team Competition

, , , , , 0

Award-winning Mountrath Community School students pictured at the AILO national final 2017 Mountrath_Presentation2

Four secondary school students from Mountrath Community School have been announced as winners of the team competition at the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) final in Dublin. The team consisted of Alex Moore, Domhnall O’Farrell, Aisling Page and Christopher Carew.

The Mountrath students beat off competition from 42 other schools around Ireland to take the team trophy.  The AILO competition has been run by the ADAPT Centre for Digital Content Technology since 2009 and challenges students to use their ingenuity, creativity and skill to decipher languages with examples of translations.

The AILO final saw the top 100 students out of a starting line up of over 4,000 opponents compete.  Competitors are challenged to engage in ‘code-breaking’ tests to unlock information in unfamiliar languages.  No prior knowledge of a second language is needed with competitors required to use logical reasoning and out-of-the-box thinking to solve the problems presented.

Speaking about the competition, Professor Vincent Wade, Director of the ADAPT Centre said: “The All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad puzzles are a mix of maths, science and humanities.  The increasing popularity of the competition highlights the Irish public’s interest and appreciation for the imporance and applicability of problem-solving skills across science, the economy and society.  We are looking forward to hosting and running a free, family-friendly problem-solving festival in Dublin Castle on 5th August which is open to all.”

Run by the Science Foundation Ireland funded ADAPT Centre, AILO aims to inspire the next generation of multilingual technology graduates, who possess a combination of language competency and problem-solving expertise.  Participants in AILO 2017 received tuition from experts at the ADAPT Centre to assist them in how to approach the puzzles.

3473-138

ADAPT Centre teams up with Queen’s University Belfast to offer Free AILO Problem-Solving Workshops

, , , 0

The ADAPT Centre has announced that it is to team up with the Northern Ireland Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research at Queen’s University Belfast to offer free problem-solving workshops for Northern Irish participants in the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad 2017.

The All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) is a competition for post-primary pupils to test their ability to solve complex problems in languages from around the world. No prior knowledge of the language is required and the competition is a test of logic, patience and the ability to think outside the box!

The Olympiad is open to participants in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Students can enter one of two categories: Junior (up to 16 years of age) and Senior (over 16 years of age).

Queen’s University Belfast will host workshops on 13th January 2017 to help students hone their problem-solving strategies ahead of competing in the qualifying round of AILO 2017 in February. ADAPT tutors will guide students through sample puzzles during a 2-hour workshop.

Spaces in the workshops are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information and to register, see https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/nicilt/EventsOpportunities/AllIrelandLinguisticsOlympiad/

 

Adapt Pic Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX

Minister Mitchell O’Connor launches national Problem-Solving Initiative

, 0

  • The Problem-Solving Initiative will foster the next generation of problem solvers for Ireland
  • Search is on for Ireland’s top young problem solver
On 7th November 2017 Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, launched a major nationwide initiative aimed at fostering the next generation of skilled problem solvers for Ireland. The Problem-Solving Initiative (PSI) will encourage Irish youngsters to hone their lateral-thinking skills, and will create enthusiasm within the Irish public for problem-solving by engaging people directly with mind-bending puzzles and challenges. It will also promote career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for those who enjoy solving problems. The two-year initiative is delivered by the ADAPT Centre for Digital Content Technology, led out of Trinity College Dublin, and funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).

 

Speaking about the initiative, ADAPT Director Professor Vincent Wade said: “Creative problem-solving and lateral thinking is at the heart of STEM. The PSI will empower the youth of Ireland to hone these transferable skills, which are a critical requirement for the future leaders in STEM fields. It will also raise public awareness of the importance of problem-solving skills across science, the economy and society.”

 

The programme of events will include expansion of the ADAPT Centre’s highly-successful All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO). AILO challenges secondary school students to develop their own problem-solving strategies to decode the world’s toughest puzzles in language, logic and linguistics. The contest, which has attracted 14,000 participants to date, aims to discover Ireland’s top young problem solver. Schools can register now at www.adaptcentre.ie/ailo

 

Welcoming the Problem Solving Initiative, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, said: “I would like to congratulate Team Ireland on their recent success at the 2016 International Linguistics Olympiad, and would encourage all schools to take part in this wonderful Problem Solving Initiative run by the ADAPT Research Centre.  I am keen to raise people’s awareness of the importance of problem solving skills across science, the economy and society as a whole and I would also like to invite people of all ages to try out the various brain teasers to hone their problem solving skills; skills that are at the very heart of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths advancement in our world.”

 

Minster of State for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan said: “The Problem Solving Initiative builds on the success of ADAPT’s AILO Competition which encourages secondary school students to perfect their analytical skills. Problem solving skills are crucial not only for STEM related careers but across society. The Problem Solving Initiative provides the opportunity to develop analytical skills in a fun engaging way. I strongly encourage everyone to put their skills to the test and challenge your friends and colleagues to try the brain teasers.”

 

Other key elements of the Problem-Solving Initiative include:
  • Problem-solving workshops at public festival events during Science Week, 13th to 20th November 2016.
  • The International Linguistics Olympiad 2017, which will see the top 180 problem solvers from more than 30 countries compete at Dublin City University from 31st July to 4th August 2017.
  • Problem-solving puzzle packs for primary schools.
  • A family Problem-Solving Festival in Dublin Castle on 5th August 2017.
  • Mind-bending puzzles available to the public through www.problemsolving.ie and via social media.
The impact of the initiative is already reflected in the strong performance of Team Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad 2016 in Mysore, India in July 2016. Claire O’Connor (17) from St. Louis High School, Rathmines beat 180 contestants from 30 countries to secure a bronze medal. Dónal Farren (17) of St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny and Pádraig Sheehy (16) of Gonzaga College, Ranelagh won Honourable Mention awards.

 

Speaking about her experience student Claire O’Connor said: “Since taking part in AILO and IOL I’ve learned that keeping an open mind and trusting your instincts prevents you from ruling out valuable ideas that may seem implausible at first. I now know not to always keep my focus linear when faced with problems“.

 

Secondary school students are encouraged to sign up for the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad 2017 now at www.adaptcentre.ie/ailo 

 

View the Photo Gallery from the Launch:

Find out more by viewing the Problem-Solving Initiative Video:

3473-129

Help foster the next generation of Irish problem solvers

, , , 0

The ADAPT Centre is seeking partners and sponsors for the Problem-Solving Initiative (PSI) to help ensure the wide reach and deep impact of this ambitious initiative.

The PSI incorporates:

Why Sponsor the Problem-Solving Initiative?

  • Associate your brand with an exciting nationwide initiative designed to foster vital skills in the Irish population
  • Align your brand with the best up-and-coming problem solvers and STEM leaders from Ireland and across the globe
  • Get your brand in front of 100,000+ members of the public

Get on Board!

Is your organisation passionate about fostering the next generation of great Irish problem solvers?

Download the Problem-Solving Initiative sponsorship brochure (pdf).

Get in touch to find out how you can support this ambitious initiative.

Want to know more? View our video introduction below.

AILO 2017 Workshop

AILO Regional Problem-Solving Workshops

0

Coming to a school near you in early 2016, the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) problem-solving workshops will help you to hone your problem-solving skills and prepare you for Round 1 of the contest.

You will receive free tuition by experts in linguistics and problem-solving strategies.

82% of AILO 2015 participants report having improved their problem-solving skills by taking part in the contest. Don’t miss out! Register for AILO 2016.

Note that teachers must register to get an invitation email to apply for places at a workshop.

Workshops

All workshops will take place on dates between 11th – 22nd January 2016. Dates for each location will be updated here once they are confirmed.

Methodist College, Belfast City, Antrim    [Wednesday 27th January]

Royal School Cavan, Cavan Town, Cavan  [Monday 11th January]

St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon, Clare [Thursday 21st  January]

St. Francis College Rochestown, Cork      [Wednesday 20th January]

Douglas Community School, Douglas, Cork    [Friday 15th January]

Loreto Letterkenny, Donegal   [Tuesday 12th January]

Abbey Donegal Town, Donegal    [Monday 11th January]

Sutton Park School, Sutton, Dublin North [Friday 15th January]

St. Finian’s Community College, Swords, Dublin North [Monday 18th January]

Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, Dublin South [Tuesday 12th January]

Tallaght Community School,  Dublin South West [Wednesday 13th January]

Maynooth Post Primary School, Kildare [Thursday 14th January]

Ardscoil Ris, Limerick  [Friday 15th January]

St. Louis Sec School, Dundalk, Louth    [Friday 15th January]

Roscommon Community School, Roscommon [Wednesday 20th January]

Newtown School    Waterford    [11-22 January]

Press Release: Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan Launches Competition Aimed at Developing Students’ Problem-Solving Skills

Press Release: Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan Launches Competition Aimed at Developing Students’ Problem-Solving Skills

0

Students from Tallaght Community School, Adam Nolan (2nd Year age 14) and Aishling Whelan (6th Year age 17) joined Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, and Director of the ADAPT Centre for Digital Content Technology, Professor Vincent Wade, to launch the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) competition.
Students from Tallaght Community School, Adam Nolan (2nd Year age 14) and Aishling Whelan (6th Year age 17) joined Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, to launch the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) competition.

Secondary school students are being urged to test their creative problem-solving skills in the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad Competition.

Register online at adaptcentre.ie/ailo/enter until 26th  January 2016.

The search is on for Ireland’s best young problem solvers! Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, today launched the 2015/6 season of the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO), an innovative competition in which secondary school students develop their own strategies for solving problems in fascinating languages from around the globe. The prize for the top four decoders is the opportunity to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad in Mysore, India in July 2016. Schools can sign up for the contest at http://www.adaptcentre.ie/ailo.

In 2014 the AILO evaluation report highlighted that 82% of students reported better problem-solving skills as well as increased propensity to take up courses in STEM topics. Already 3,000 students have signed up for AILO 2015/6 and it is hoped that the 2014/5 number of 4000 participants will be exceeded before the application deadline of 25th January 2016.

Speaking about AILO, Minister O’Sullivan said: “AILO continues to go from strength-to-strength. It’s a great competition that challenges second-level students in a fun and engaging way. The analytical skills students develop are not only vital for careers at the cross-section of computing and linguistics, but are transferable skills that are critical for a range of STEM careers. I encourage students to take part in AILO 2015/6 and test their minds against the world’s languages.”

Established in 2009, AILO’s primary aim is to enhance students’ problem solving skills in order to prepare them for high-tech careers in Ireland’s multi-billion euro digital content sector. The competition challenges secondary school students to engage in code-breaking to decipher complex puzzles in unfamiliar languages. Students use their ingenuity to solve puzzles such as deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics, decoding numerical spy codes, and interpreting Mayan poetry.

The contest is run by the ADAPT Centre for Digital Content Technology, a Science Foundation Ireland funded research centre led out of Trinity College Dublin, and aims to develop students’ problem-solving skills, inspiring them to consider the fascinating range of careers at the intersection of computing, linguistics and language.

This year a new pre-Round One training programme has been launched with ADAPT hosting a number of regional AILO problem-solving workshops in hubs all over the island between 11th-22nd January 2016. Round one will take place in secondary schools on 1st February 2016.

Director of ADAPT and Professor in Computer Science at Trinity College Dublin, Vincent Wade, added: “The AILO competition is helping Ireland push the boundaries of modern science by challenging the next generation of scientists, innovators and problem-solvers. This initiative helps students develop the skills necessary to ensure Ireland is a world leader in STEM education and related industries. With over 13,000 participants to date, we at ADAPT are committed to developing problem-solving techniques in secondary school students in Ireland through the AILO competition.”

The top 100 students from the qualifying round will progress to the national final, which will be held at Trinity College Dublin on 15th March 2016. The overall top four performers will go on to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad in India in July 2016. Schools can register online until the end of January at http://www.adaptcentre.ie/ailo.

..Ends..

Media Contact:

Dr. Cara Greene, National Coordinator, All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad and Research Outreach Coordinator, ADAPT @ Dublin City University, at cara.greene@adaptcentre.ie or Tel: +353-1-700-6704 / +353-86-864-6476

ADDITONAL NOTES for EDITORS

The International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL):

The International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) is one of 12 International Science Olympiads, and has been held annually since 2003. Each year, teams of young problem-solvers from around the world gather and test their minds against the world’s toughest puzzles in language, logic and linguistics. No prior knowledge of linguistics or languages is required; even the hardest problems require only logical ability, patient work, and willingness to think around corners. 35 countries have competed in the first eleven International Linguistics Olympiads.

Ireland has entered a team each year since 2009, and the team members are selected on the basis of their strong performance in the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO). AILO is run by the Science Foundation Ireland and industry-funded ADAPT centre for global digital content and media innovation. More than 13,000 secondary school students have participated in the Irish contest to date.

www.ioling.org/

 

About the ADAPT Centre:

ADAPT, the Centre for Digital Content Technology, provides a partnership between academia and industry in the field of digital content technology, leading on ground-breaking innovations in areas such as localization, social media analysis, multimodal interaction, intelligent content and media, and informal and formal learning. Funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the centre is led out of Trinity College Dublin and combines the world-class expertise of researchers at Dublin City University, University College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology. The All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad, the problem-solvers’ challenge, is a key element of the ADAPT Education and Outreach Programme.

ADAPT’s cutting-edge technologies enable businesses in all sectors to harness global digital content and media technologies to achieve unprecedented engagement among customers, companies and communities.

http://www.adaptcentre.ie

 

 

 

 

Load More