Intelligence, ravishing personality and radiant beauty are just some of the many glowing qualities that broadcaster and overall science and maths genius Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin holds. Last week, while speaking with the former Rose of Tralee, I was reined in by her charming demeanour and well-spoken voice, making it easy to see why she has indeed become a national treasure since winning the competition in 2005.A native of county Mayo, Ní Shúilleabháin credits her passion for science and mathematics with the surrounding rural landscape that she found herself growing up in as a child.“Living in rural Ireland and looking at the night sky gave me a really good view of the constellations,” says Ní Shúilleabháin philosophically. “Looking at the stars gave me an awareness that this is all bigger than you and the earth, and I was fascinated by the thought of a solar system and galaxies. This really was my initial draw into physics.”Ní Shúilleabháin’s passion for physics resulted in her studying Theoretical Physics in UCD and receiving a First Class Honours Degree in the subject. Her overwhelming love for the subject saw her work as a teacher of both Maths and Science in Tallaght, something which she had to give up due to deciding to complete a PhD in Maths Education in Trinity College.This was not an easy decision for someone so obviously passionate about encouraging young people to develop their knowledge and explore ideas.
“Oh yeah, I loved it. I loved teaching and there’s always that draw back to the classroom,” Ní Shúilleabháin says enthusiastically. So was it hard for her to leave teaching? “It was difficult, but it would have been difficult to complete a PhD part-time and that was the best decision for me at the time.”Since winning the Rose of Tralee in 2005, Ní Shúilleabháin’s passion for the fields of maths and science has been allowed to flourish. She has co-presented the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition with Ray D’Arcy and was ambassador for Dublin City of Science 2012. She has also been a key facilitator in the Project Maths Programme.For Ní Shúilleabháin, however, one the most exciting adventures she has had in science has been her role as lead presenter on RTÉ show, The Science Squad. The programme, which she co-presents along with Kathriona Devereux and Jonathan McCrea, is entering its third series this October.“I’m really proud of it. I’ve learned a lot about all different types of science in all different fields,” says Ní Shúilleabháin, who as part of the third series travelled to Uganda to find out about a rainwater project that, if successful, could result in heathier pregnancies and births for women in the country.
There is a requirement for female role models. I mightn’t have had a lot of role models, but I watched a lot of Sci-Fi films and read books and within those there were a lot of female characters
“I’ve learned so much about how research can impact all people around the world, in particular through the social project in Uganda. I’ve learned about plants which mightn’t exist in 50 years’ time here in UCD and about plants that will grow in the space station in UL. There really is a plethora of research around Ireland.”While Ní Shúilleabháin is obviously completely infatuated with all things science and maths related, figures for girls studying both subjects in university are lower than that for males.“The numbers are improving, but research does show that there is a requirement for female role models. I mightn’t have had a lot of role models, but I watched a lot of Sci-Fi films and read books and within those there were a lot of female characters,” chuckles the Mayo woman.For Ní Shúilleabháin, encouraging both girls and boys to take an interest in maths and science should begin at an early age. “Talking positively about it and giving a positive experience of it in primary school helps.”While in conversation with Ní Shúilleabháin, it is clear that she prefers a hands on teaching approach, encouraging young people to explore ideas for themselves, rather than the usual run-of-the-mill rote learning method generally pushed in Irish schools.“It’s important that we encourage more qualified teachers, who aren’t afraid to take risks and while I miss it, it’s important to research so more teachers can learn,” states Ní Shúilleabháin who is currently working in UCD as a researcher.
Having put teaching on the back burner while completing her PhD, Ní Shúilleabháin managed to expand her broadcasting CV. Having previously worked on shows such as The Panel, Fleadh Cheoil and The Reel Deal, Ní Shúilleabháin elieves broadcasting provided the perfect equilibrium for her strenuous study lifestyle.“To be honest I enjoyed having a different mental space. Broadcasting does require socialising a bit more which is a real antithesis to the life of a researcher. It gave me more balance.”Her broadcasting work covers a wide range from current affairs and the Irish language, to entertainment and travel in the show Getaways. Now an esteemed name in Irish media, does the Connaught native shy away from her Rose of Tralee roots or credit it for her success?“I’m always appreciative of my involvement in the festival, otherwise I would never have thought of media work. I fell into it by accident and it’s something that has just grown and grown which has been delightful.”Humbled by her success in the media, in the last couple of years Ní Shúilleabháin has added the medium of radio to her list of broadcasting achievements, something she believes complimented her studies extremely well.“Radio is a great medium and is really intimate. Oddly enough it relates well to the life of a researcher due to facts and qualitative research. There is a real cross-over between media and the life of a researcher in that respect.“I love doing radio. I did some work on Newstalk and Raidió na Life and had my own show on Radio 1 last year, which was great.”Having mentioned her work on Raidió na Life, the fluent Gaeilgeoir gives about her opinion on the Irish language.“To be honest it’s not something I’ve engaged with in recent years. Yes it’s my first language, but I’m not actually from the Gaeltacht and I do actually find that that’s a point I’m reminded of sometimes!”While speaking about the Irish language, it’s obvious that Ní Shúilleabháin doesn’t believe that the Irish language should be limited to those who are only from Gaeltacht regions. “It’s a point I had to work on and I don’t think that we should only encourage people from the Gaeltacht and those who speak grammatically correct Irish to only speak the language.”Ní Shúilleabháin‘s interest in all things Irish is indicative in her membership of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann along with her brothers while growing up, while her mother was principal of the local Gaelscoil, making it easy for her to be immersed in the language. However the language is primarily about culture for Ní Shúilleabháin: “In secondary school learning Irish should be about music, dance and storytelling. We are focusing on the language too much.”As my conversation with the striking Ms. Ní Shúilleabháin comes to an end, I must admit that in her I have found a new girl crush. Her beaming personality and brainy ways have only been enhanced since her Rose of Tralee win. While a few years ago girls may have struggled to find a role model in maths and science, now all they have to do is take a glance across the river Shannon to admire what Ní Shúilleabháin has achieved.Images by: Keith Arkins
