The new Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition trophies, which were presented in the RDS Dublin last Friday, were designed by main sponsors Stripe and printed by the Co. Limerick-based Croom Medical, writes John Barrett.
Created using advanced 3D-printing technology, the trophies are made of the same strong, medical-grade material as orthopaedic implants. The design could not be produced using traditional manufacturing methods, reflecting the blend of engineering innovation and scientific discovery at the heart of the exhibition.
Patrick Byrnes, CEO of Croom Medical, said the sponsorship reflects a natural alignment between advanced manufacturing and science education. “The technologies we used to manufacture the Stripe YSTE trophies are the same we rely on every day to produce orthopaedic implants,” he commented. “Supporting the Young Scientist Exhibition allows us to apply that capability in a way that recognises curiosity, experimentation and engineering thinking at an early stage. By sponsoring the manufacture of the trophies for the Stripe Young Scientist Competition, Croom Medical is pleased to support the development of Ireland’s next generation of engineers, scientists and problem solvers. Many of the skills demonstrated by students at the exhibition, from design for manufacture to precision engineering, closely reflect those applied within Croom Medical.”