Ireland's Maths Problem; Wireless Medical Devices; A Smartphone Defibrillator [DCFM:51]

Ireland's Maths Problem; Shape-shifting implants; Mobile defibrillator IMAGE: A smartphone, such as this iphone, could be converted into a mobile defibrillator, according to Belvedere College science students [Credit: Gizmodo] What's it all about? Electroactive Polymers, or EAPs, are materials that change shape in response to electricity. These have potential for use as futuristic medical devices, for use, for example, in people with cardiovascular disease. Frank Stam of the Tyndall National Institute tells us more.  The question is?  The latest OECD report on maths standards shows Ireland has slipped into the bottom half of the league table when it comes to maths standards among developed nations. We ask Dr Sara McMurry, a retired physicist from TCD, and the author of a new book called 'Mathematics as a language' where she thinks we are going wrong.  Inventive minds We talk this week to two Belvedere College students, Owen Killian and Lucas Grange, that will be exhibiting their idea for a smartphone defibrillator at the upcoming BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition  To contact the show with comments, suggestions or suggests, email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie To SUBSCRIBE to receive a podcast of the show each week, simply email the word 'SUBSCRIBE' to sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie Thanks for listening Sean Duke, Presenter & Producer, Science Spinning on 103.2 Dublin City FM.