Irish students count down to plan trip to Mars

A GROUP of Irish scientists will be part of a team helping people boldly go where no one has gone before.

The 18 science and engineering students will contribute to sending the first manned shuttle to Mars when they spend six weeks working with NASA this summer.

The students taking on the FÁS Science Challenge at the Florida Space Authority were chosen from hundreds nominated by the country’s third-level institutions.

They will work with experts from the fields of science and space Technology from NASA, the private sector and academic institutions during their six weeks at Cape Canaveral.

Fergus Meade, a third-year genetics student at University College Cork, said the six-week trip is an exciting opportunity.

“I will be on the life sciences team, our jobs will include working on ways to feed astronauts on a trip to Mars and growing food on the planet’s surface,” he said.

While any manned flight to the red planet is well over a decade away, scientists have been planning such a potential journey for many years.

The group of Irish students, representing 10 universities and institutes of technology, are the third such team to take part in the challenge.

This year’s programme revolves around the title Mission to Mars, and includes a focus on the pure sciences, life sciences and engineering, with topics such as high energy physics, human physiology and cryogenics among the many other subjects.

Ahead of their departure on July 6, the team were wished well by Education Minister Mary Hanafin yesterday. She told them that this lifetime experience will enable them to transfer skills and knowledge to their future careers, in turn benefiting third-level colleges, future employers and the country.

The project has been developed by FÁS and aims to create a greater awareness and involvement in science by students of all ages in order to meet the future needs of the labour market.

Ms Hanafin said the initiative embraces the heart of the Government’s policy of ensuring that Ireland continues to be recognised as a knowledge-based society.