University College Dublin's annual Merville Lay Seminars take place next week on Wednesday March 5th. Chaired as usual by RTÉ television and radio presenter, Pat Kenny, the judging panel includes a banker, a singer, an author and a journalist.
The competition challenges six student researchers to explain their work to a lay audience using ordinary language. Their short oral presentations provide real insights into the latest research in biochemistry and pharmacology and for the first time, chemistry. Each 20 minute talk is followed by a short question and answer session.
Judges this year include Ronan White of Anglo Irish Bank, singer Mary Coughlan, the author Dermot Bolger and Róisín Ingle of The Irish Times.
The Merville seminars are free and open to the public. No tickets are required and the opening address by UCD president, Dr Art Cosgrove begins at 7p.m. in the O'Reilly Hall on the Belfield campus.