The winner of the MATRIX Poetry Competition was announced on Saturday evening by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. David Crozier, Technical Marketing Manager at Queen’s University Belfast’s ECIT Institute based at the Northern Ireland Science Park was revealed as the winner for his poem entitled The Dock. Runner up was Tim Brundle, Director of Innovation at the University of Ulster for his poem entitled A Lost Ring.

The inaugural competition, which was introduced by MATRIX to highlight the links between science and the arts, was to write a poem about any science related topic. It was open to those people who study the STEM subjects or work in science/technology based industries. It was judged by Professor Iggy McGovern, Professor of Physics at Trinity College Dublin and award winning poet.

The Chair of the MATRIX panel Bryan Keating said

“We are delighted with the response we received in the first year of the competition and a very high standard has been set. Professor McGovern, who has a foot in both the arts and science had a tough job in judging the competition but a very worthy winner has been selected. Well done to David.

“One of MATRIX’s primary roles is to represent the voice of high tech industry but from the poems we received it is obvious that many of our scientists and technologists have also an artistic and creative voice. We look forward to running this competition again next year and we may expand it to include people who work in other sectors.”

The winner of the competition received a £250 cheque and a beautiful crystal trophy, engraved with the wording MATRIX Poetry Competition 2013, Winner. The runner up received £100 along with a crystal trophy also engraved. The winning poem is:

The Dock

The sound of hammering and clanging ringing out from the dock
Regularly drifts in the sea breeze through my window.
This recording a remembrance of ocean liners engineered
In Belfast’s mighty shipyards once spread out below.

Now in this furnace of technology, an Institute of the future,
Researchers secure the digital tomorrow for one and all.
Transportation of a different kind their focus; of data and knowledge.
The brains of this nation answering Queen’s Island call.

For through science our pride will be restored once more,
Technology despatched through new venture creation.
Lessons learned, skills honed, motivation unsinkable
Let’s doff a duncher to this foundry of innovation.