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Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

physics-astronomy.org

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Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#51

Post by pvaldes »

cbhl wrote: post #19
pmoriarty wrote: post #10

"Microplastics or microbeads are mostly used in soaps, shower gels and facial scrubs to exfoliate skin..." So, wait... If we just stopped using microplastics in soaps, shower gels and facial scrubs we'd mostly stop dumping microsplastics in to the environment? But we don't because we'd rather have this totally optional, cosmetic benefit? Humans are so stupid.

Even if you want the cosmetic benefit of physical exfoliation, we don't have to use plastic -- you could just as easily use sand or salt and get the same benefits.

... except the extra dose of estrogen mimicking chemicals, (that for women could be an extra bonus "feeling like a woman", etc).

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#52

Post by pvaldes »

RomanBob wrote: post #43
pvaldes wrote: post #33

Maybe it was the cynical in me, but I wonder why those "teenager will save the world" relates are so popular (but often show so few results at long term). Some awards seem just a way to pose, borrow some good ideas, obtain a photo and a cover page and this is all. Will be interesting to see how this ends

Because in reality the teenager's mental output isn't higher than a random adult engineer. But people just think "amazing" when a teenager does something, because people now have very low expectation for teenagers.

The question then is why aren't more adult engineers in those awards (shrug). Maybe they know better and assure to patent their product/idea/project first to exchange it for a pat in the shoulder and a little gossip exposure to show your mum. Dunno...

For this guy the effort investment will be very profitable at least. I'm honestly happy for him (but a litte baffled that they still look for multitask superheros able to play the tuba. Why we would want a girl/guy, able to clean the ocean, spending one single hour of their precious time learning the baby elephant walk instead?).

It seems that the number of "don't apply if you are not young" job offers in science is increasing in any case.

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#53

Post by themarkn »

RomanBob wrote: post #42
bb101 wrote: post #34

"Ferrier sat his Leaving Certificate exams last month at Schull Community College and is due to attend university in the Netherlands. The teenager works as a curator at the Schull Planetarium, has won 12 science fair awards, speaks three languages fluently, plays the trumpet at orchestra level, and had a minor planet named after him by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory." Anyone else feeling somewhat inadequate in comparison…

>Ferrier sat his Leaving Certificate exams last month at Schull Community College and is due to attend university in the Netherlands. pretty normal to graduate high school and attend university > works as a curator at the Schull Planetarium I don't know what responsibility this holds how he got the job so it's hard to say. >has won 12 science fair awards I don't know the award scheme so hard to say. Even if he won 1s…

Luckily the young dude has no need to prove himself to you, and hopefully he never reads this comment.

Being engaged enough as a teenager to win stuff, have a job, become actually fluent at languages (Irish high school does not make you fluent), do your grades in music, and choose then qualify for a university outside Ireland - none of this is easy or the "default" that is expected of children growing up there.

The default is you either stay in the town you grew up in or attend one of several major Irish universities free of charge with a bunch of your friends. After which you get a job in one of the bigger cities, maybe emigrate for employment reasons, or indeed head on back to your home town anyway and look for work there. That's normal.

You're doubtful of this kid's accomplishments but you have no context for the surrounding culture or how hard these things might have been for him individually.

I grew up there. It's not easy to stick your neck out and try to achieve things or be interested in success as a teenager in a rural school in Ireland.

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#54

Post by Shaanie »

pvaldes wrote: post #52
RomanBob wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because in reality the teenager's mental output isn't higher than a random adult engineer. But people just think "amazing" when a teenager does something, because people now have very low expectation for teenagers.

The question then is why aren't more adult engineers in those awards (shrug). Maybe they know better and assure to patent their product/idea/project first to exchange it for a pat in the shoulder and a little gossip exposure to show your mum. Dunno... For this guy the effort investment will be very profitable at least. I'm honestly happy for him (but a litte baffled that they still look for multitask superheros able…

The award is only open for kids aged 13 to 18, so it's hardly surprising.

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#55

Post by falcor84 »

Tade0 wrote: post #46
bb101 wrote: post #34

"Ferrier sat his Leaving Certificate exams last month at Schull Community College and is due to attend university in the Netherlands. The teenager works as a curator at the Schull Planetarium, has won 12 science fair awards, speaks three languages fluently, plays the trumpet at orchestra level, and had a minor planet named after him by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory." Anyone else feeling somewhat inadequate in comparison…

Reminds me of my friend who, when asked about this girl he's been dating lately, listed all her accomplishments(she has perfect pitch, good job etc.). I think the author of this piece values these accomplishments more than the guy in question.

For what it's worth, I noticed that a similar list of accomplishments appears on the guy's own website: https://www.fionnferreira.com

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#56

Post by odessacubbage »

scarejunba wrote: post #38
bb101 wrote: post #34

"Ferrier sat his Leaving Certificate exams last month at Schull Community College and is due to attend university in the Netherlands. The teenager works as a curator at the Schull Planetarium, has won 12 science fair awards, speaks three languages fluently, plays the trumpet at orchestra level, and had a minor planet named after him by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory." Anyone else feeling somewhat inadequate in comparison…

Superstars exist, dude. The only actionable view is to improve on the current you. Sometimes there will be things you're not good enough to do or that you don't want enough to practise enough. I can't ollie a board. Such is life.

if you actually want to learn how to ollie, it's very achievable. just try to commit some time to it every day. it's a weird motion to get used to at first but once you understand what it feels like to pop the board the right way you never lose it.

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#57

Post by JoeAltmaier »

Sure, but why? What harm do these things do?

I know, lots of articles are published that cite one another. But none of them have any actual harm documented. They just vaguely refer to one another with "It's well-known that these things are harmful" and then cite another article that says the same thing.

It reminds me of 'solar roads', another hyped-up internet sensation based on nothing.

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#58

Post by 9nGQluzmnq3M »

falcor84 wrote: post #55
Tade0 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reminds me of my friend who, when asked about this girl he's been dating lately, listed all her accomplishments(she has perfect pitch, good job etc.). I think the author of this piece values these accomplishments more than the guy in question.

For what it's worth, I noticed that a similar list of accomplishments appears on the guy's own website: https://www.fionnferreira.com

...and a photo of him accepting an award from Vint Cerf.

inadequacy intensifies

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#59

Post by TrackerFF »

RomanBob wrote: post #43
pvaldes wrote: post #33

Maybe it was the cynical in me, but I wonder why those "teenager will save the world" relates are so popular (but often show so few results at long term). Some awards seem just a way to pose, borrow some good ideas, obtain a photo and a cover page and this is all. Will be interesting to see how this ends

Because in reality the teenager's mental output isn't higher than a random adult engineer. But people just think "amazing" when a teenager does something, because people now have very low expectation for teenagers.

Teenagers also tend to have all the time in the world for hobbies, relative to working adults.

I'm a firm believer that in order to reach virtuous levels in anything, you really need to take advantage of your teenage years to nail down the fundamentals.

I'm a musician myself, and spent almost every day between ages 13 to 20, often up to 6 hours a day, practicing and playing my instrument. Way more often than not, when I meet very talented people in different walks of life (music, tech, sports, etc.), it's the same story.

Teens also tend to have a very naive optimism and ambition / drive. Nothing is impossible, and no-ones gonna stop them. I think you need that no-breaks mentality to succeed.

And lastly, people naturally root for young people. The next hope, and all that.

Re: Irish Teenager Wins Global Science Award for Removing Microplastics from Water

#60

Post by giarc »

RomanBob wrote: post #43
pvaldes wrote: post #33

Maybe it was the cynical in me, but I wonder why those "teenager will save the world" relates are so popular (but often show so few results at long term). Some awards seem just a way to pose, borrow some good ideas, obtain a photo and a cover page and this is all. Will be interesting to see how this ends

Because in reality the teenager's mental output isn't higher than a random adult engineer. But people just think "amazing" when a teenager does something, because people now have very low expectation for teenagers.

"Because in reality the teenager's mental output isn't higher than a random adult engineer."

This is why I think more companies should embrace skunkworks projects/time. Imagine if some of the best engineers around the world were given time during the day to work on some hard problems they wouldn't necessarily be thinking about. I'm sure we'd solve some problems pretty quickly. Instead engineers are working on extracting more eye time for ads.

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