First ever virtual BT Young Scientist Exhibtion launches tomorrow

Gary Ibbotson 05 Jan 2021
Shay Walsh, managing director of BT Ireland (left) and Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh (right), present the BT Young Scientist & Technology Award 2019 to Adam Kelly, from Skerries Community College. PHOTO: CHRIS BELLEW/FENNELL PHOTOGRAPHY

The first ever Virtual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition will launch tomorrow as over 1,000 students across the country are set to take part in the event.

Usually an in-person convention that takes place over a number of days in the RDS, this year’s Young Scientist Exhibition will be a virtual affair, due to the ongoing pandemic.

President Michael D. Higgins will officially open the exhibition at a ceremony tomorrow at 8am where the country’s brightest young minds will compete to take home the title of the BT Young Scientist and Technologist(s) of the Year 2021.

The opening ceremony will be recorded and streamed from the Mansion House, Dawson Street, where the first ever exhibition took place in 1965.

Representing over 200 schools throughout the country, the 1,000 plus students and their projects will cover a diverse range of topics including social media and technology, ethnicity, gender studies, sports science, climate change, agricultural science, nutrition, solar power, biological diversity and of course, Covid-19.

This year’s winner(s) will be announced online at 1pm Friday, January 8 and will be presented with a cheque for €7,500 and the newly designed trophy.

Overall, there are over 200 prizes for individuals, groups, and teachers as part of the exhibition, judged by over 80 volunteer judges.

On the lead-up to the event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I’m delighted the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is going ahead this year, and I want to congratulate BT and the Young Scientist Board who’ve pulled it together despite all of the obstacles.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen how important science and technology are to solving our global problems, enhancing our living conditions, and helping us to adapt more rapidly to crises.

“The strength of our scientific community has developed new vaccines and given us new treatments for Covid-19.

“It is through technology we have been able to bridge the social distance we’ve been faced with.

While the exhibition will be different this year, the platform it provides to students to showcase their ideas continues to be of great importance.

“The diversity of the entries shows that our vision for STEM education is being realised in schools across the country, hugely helped by events such as this.

“It fills me with immense pride and hope to see the ideas of bright, innovative and creative minds, and I wish all participants, and those supporting them on their journey, every success in the future.”

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