Writing this sort of biography thing is a bit silly, since I’ve spent most of my life at school, and while that’s all very exciting it’s not really a Times Bestseller. Instead I’ll just try and tell you a bit about me. I love music – especially classical and rock, but my tastes are pretty diverse, so I tend not to have violent reactions to it . I try to play the piano, with varying levels of pain to anyone else present – I do a terrific Chopsticks though. I also make websites for people – I’ve done quite a few now, and even written a content management system which I hope to develop for other sites in the near future.I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for physics and astronomy – actually, I’m doing them at University. That’s about it to be honest – I’ve not got a lot to boast about. If you’re curious I’m a die-hard Socialist, and I’m a member of the Labour Party, but it’s unlikely to come up in conversation unless you propose some ultra-capitalist plan to me!

I can’t really claim credit for them, but my family now has five dogs, and five cats, in addition to me and my sister. Talk about a handful.  I first attended Killinchy Primary School, and having passed my 11+ transfer test moved on to Methodist College Belfast, where I sat my GCSE examinations in 2008, and took Physics, Mathematics, Geology, and Chemistry to A-Level in 2010. I’ll be moving on to university in September 2010 – don’t quite know where, it depends on my results!

Oh, the transientlunatic thing comes from a big science project I did a few years back, which was about Transient Lunar Phenomena, and when our headmaster announced this with some amusement and tongue-twisting the assembly hall gave a bit of a  titter, and so an identity was born!

Now the stuff that can be given substantially, if you care:

Qualifications

AS-level

• Chemistry – A
• Geology – A
• Physics – A
• Mathematics – B

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

• Science (Core) – A*
• Science (Additional) – A*
• Mathematics – A*
• Mathematics (Additional) – B
• Astronomy [2005] – A*
• Geography – A*
• Geology – A*

• English (Language) – A*
• English (Literature) – A*
• Latin – A*
• Greek (Ancient) – A
• French – A

• Religious Education – A*

Awards & Achievements

• 2010 – Highly Commended Delegate (Security Council) George Watsons MUN
• 2009 – UK Mathematical Challenge Bronze Award
• 2009 – Secretary General MCBMUN
• 2009 – British Physics Challenge Bronze Award
• 2008 – CREST Silver Award
• 2008 – British Physics Challenge Bronze Award
• 2008 – BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (Shortlisted, On Display at RDS)
• 2007 – Geographical Association World Wise Quiz Runner Up (MCB Team, with Anandagopal Srinivasan & Peter McCluggage)
• 2007 – Best Junior Delegate (Security Council) George Watsons MUN
• 2005 – BAYS Bronze Award

Magazines

• Stardust: The Magazine of the Irish Astronomical Association (June 2008)- My montage of the March 2007 lunar eclipse was featured with other photos of the eclipse.

• Methody Matters: The Magazine of Methodist College Belfast (January 2008) – News of my work on Lunar Transient Phenomena for the BT Young Scientist Competition 2008 was featured, with photo, alongside a mention of the school’s Worldwise Quiz success (of which I was the team captain).

• Methody Matters: The Magazine of Methodist College Belfast (June 2008)- A report of the BTYS 2008 was included in the same article as a report on my award in the British Physics Challenge.

• College Magazine:The Annual report of Methodist College Belfast (2004)- An essay about a painting of a duck which I had written as part of an art project was published.

• College Magazine:The Annual report of Methodist College Belfast (2006)- A mention about GW MUN.

• College Magazine:The Annual report of Methodist College Belfast (2007)- Two essays from my GCSE English coursework were published along with other pupils’.

Radio

• RTE Radio One: Mooney Goes Wild (11 January 2008) – Report from BTYS 2008 on LTP Project. Listen Online ~ It starts about 55 minutes into the recording, and I think it sounds like I put on an Irish accent for it – the other two involved in the project (Mark Paulin and Anandagopal Srinivasan, or as the chap interviewing us puts it A-nan-da-gopaal Srii-nii-vaa-saan) didn’t get a word in…

Television

• BBC One Northern Ireland:Newsline (11 January 2008) – Report from BTYS on Northern Irish entrants.
• RTE One:RTE News Six One – Report from BTYS. Interviewed by weather presenter Evelyn Cusack. This is listed on their website, but our clip was mixed up with another of some rather more glamorous TV presenters…