INSIDERS
New TV series bringing kids the science behind the places they love
tRTE, Wednesdays, 5pm
Insiders is a new 10-part TV series for RTE Young People’s that explores the wow science behind the cool events and venues that kids love.
Whether it’s one of the biggest match days of the year at Croke Park or a thrilling trip to one of Europe’s most exciting theme parks, our experts Phil, Sarah-Louise and Jennifer are on a mission to show you the genius that goes into making it all happen.
They’re Insiders because they are scientists. Sarah-Louise is a physicist, Phil is too ,plus he’s an engineering nut and Jennifer is a Biochemist.
Sarah Louise likes to do cool experiments, solve tricky problems and explore the universe. Phil loves building weird and wonderful inventions to show how stuff works. And Jennifer is fascinated by the human body – even when it’s gross it’s brilliant!
Note to editors:
INSIDERS is co-funded with RTE by Science Foundation Ireland. SFI wants to help people to consider, question and debate the key issues in science and society. The purpose of the Discover programme is to support projects that encourage people of all ages and from all walks of life to be informed, inspired and involved in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Episode 1:
INSIDERS SPORTS EPISODE
The Insiders look at the science behind sport when they go behind the scenes at an Ireland England soccer international at the Aviva Stadium. They see how the Irish invention Viper pod technology is used in training. Sarah Louise and Jennifer set themselves the challenge of competing in their first Triathlon and see if high tech training equipment like the Watt Bike and tests like the VO2 Max can give them the edge. Phil and his five aside soccer team attempt to power a TV with ‘pedal power’and Jennifer has a cow’s heart on hand to demonstrate how hard the body’s hardest working muscle works.
INSIDERS
Wednesdays at 5pm
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES
JENNIFER CLEARY
Jennifer Cleary is a biochemist from Dublin. She has a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from University College Dublin. As well as her new role on Insiders she is currently undertaking an Irish Research Council funded PhD in biochemistry at University College Dublin.
Jen loved science from a young age, taking part in the BT Young Scientist in Dublin and the Social Innovators in Northern Ireland whilst in school. During her PhD career she has also enjoyed giving talks to both the scientific and lay community to get them enthusiastic about nuclear magnetic resonance.
She has won the Conway Medal in 2014 for her research on the topic and was runner up in the ENGAGE lay seminars.
Jen works hard in a lab everyday discovering new things and when she goes home she loves to watch television, the funnier the show the better! Cartoons especially as they give her great ideas for her next hair colour!
When Jen is not in the lab or telling everyone how many atoms are in a glass of water (8,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (8 septillion) by the way!) she can be found reading comics, playing with Lego or making balloon animals.
SARAH-LOUISE BALL
Sarah-Louise Ball is a physicist and Science Communicator. She has a Degree in Experimental physics and an MSc in Bio-Physics from Trinity College Dublin.
Alongside her role on Insiders, she is working on new public engagement projects such as City of Physics, a citywide campaign to bring physics to unusual places across Dublin.
She has appeared on stage at The Festival of Curiosity 2015 and has produced live shows such as The Roney & Joe Science Show at the BT Young Scientist and technology exhibition 2015. Sarah-Louise has previously taught science modules in Primary schools as part of a new pilot program, Science in a Box and has worked behind the scenes at BBC’s Stargazing LIVE 2015.
Sarah-Louise has loved science since primary school when she scared her then teacher by boiling water in a paper cup! She has always enjoyed experimenting and figuring out how the world around us works. She enjoys sharing this wonder of the scientific world with everyone, and encouraging them to question everything, from quarks to the cosmos!
PHIL SMYTH
Phil Smyth is a physicist and an engineer. He studied applied Physics in Dublin City University followed by a research based masters in mechanical engineering.
He loves all things weird and wonderful, especially if they involve an explosion of some kind. His love of science and engineering stems from a childhood filled with taking things apart and bodging new inventions or structures together. During his time in DCU Phil was awarded two European Space Agency scholarships. With these he visited the Kennedy Space Centre for the World Space Congress and also the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). This led Phil to work as a consultant on an ESA backed student project for their outreach office.
He is a National Co-ordinator for Thesis in 3 – Ireland largest PhD presentation competition, the Director of Pint of Science, a training consultant for SFI Smart Futures and still finds time to lecture postgraduates in UCD in Communication skills. In his spare time Phil loves the outdoors and anything that goes fast. He loves canyoning, soccer, go karting, camping and is a former All Ireland golf medal winner.
He has written and presented over 120 segments for television on shows such as The Mountain, Elev8, Twigín and Swipe TV before landing the role as a main presenter on RTÉ’s new science show Insiders.