Patrick Thomas Burke (1923 – 30 March 2008) was an Irish Carmelite priest, physicist and school teacher, and co-founder of the Young Scientist Exhibition. Burke was born 4 November 1923. He was educated in Synge Street Christian Brothers School in Dublin. He joined the Carmelites, and studied in

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

, earning a Degree(1945), Masters(1947) and Doctorate(1949). He studied in

Milltown Park Milltown () is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, Ireland. Milltown was the site of several working mills on the River Dodder and is also the location of the meeting of the River Slang with the Dodder. It is located adjacent to other suburban ...

earning a Theology degree and licentiate. Ordained in 1951, he also gained a Higher Diploma in Education in 1953. Burke taught Mathematics and Physics at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, before teaching Mathematics at

Terenure College Terenure College is a Carmelite-run secondary school located in the suburb of Terenure, Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded in 1860 and had an associated primary school until 2017. It is one of the "big six" Leinster Schools Rugby-playing ...

in Dublin, where he also served as Prior and Headmaster. He joined the Physics department at UCD. He co-founded with Dr

Tony Scott Anthony David Leighton Scott (21 June 1944 – 19 August 2012) was an English film director and producer. He was known for directing highly successful action and thriller films such as ''Top Gun'' (1986), ''Beverly Hills Cop II'' (1987), ''Day ...

his former pupil in

the

Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, commonly called the Young Scientist Exhibition, is an Irish annual school students' science competition that has been held in the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland, every January since the c ...

in 1965, they came up with the idea while working in New Mexico in 1963. In 2007 they were awarded honorary doctorates by

Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological Un ...

in recognition of their promotion of science. Burke died on 30 March 2008.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Patrick Thomas 1923 births 2008 deaths Alumni of Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy Alumni of University College Dublin Irish physicists 20th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests Irish schoolteachers Mathematics educators Physics educators Carmelites