Southsiders take their place among the Young Scientists

A NUMBER of Southside schools and colleges took their place among the many entrants and exhibitors at this year’s jam-packed 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

The massive event sprang to life as 1,100 students from 244 schools across the island descended on the RDS to set up their projects and begin to prepare for the days ahead.

In a rousing speech to a packed house of young scientists, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar opened the exhibition by expressing his admiration at the calibre and creativity of this year’s projects.

The topical nature of students’ projects “suggests that change is coming”, he said, encouraging students “to keep innovating, to keep creating and to keep using your imagination to create a better world”.

BT Ireland MD, Shay Walsh congratulated all students on their participation in BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, in what is now the longest-running science fair of its kind, in not just Ireland but the world.

This is the 20th consecutive year for the technology giant to organise and sponsor the exhibition and they have confirmed that it would be extending its agreement to sponsor this historic event until 2023.

Mr Walsh said: “BT Ireland is celebrating 20 years of partnership with Young Scientist this year and are delighted to extend our commitment to future exhibitions.

“As organiser and sponsor, we have the honour of working with so many organisations and individuals dedicated to giving a platform to all young people to share their ideas on how to create a better world.

“This iconic exhibition has proven that the power of science and technology combined with the power of youth can change the world.”

Further inspirational messages were shared with the assembled audience from Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh. Much to the delight of the young scientists and technologists, world-renowned Professor Brian Cox took a tour of the exhibition to talk to students about their projects.

The RDS was a hive of activity as the first-round of judging got well underway. It was a day filled with a flurry of excitement and enthusiasm, with old and new friends gathering to share ideas and a passion for discovery in the RDS.

Among those taking part was Matthew O'Regan from St Andrew’s College, Booterstown. He was an entrant with his project entitled ‘Quantum Mechanics, Black Holes, Einstein and Maths: The connection between modern research in algebraic topology relating to Ricci flow and modern physics’.

Matthew Heffernan, Jack Mulvihill, and Rory Maher from Terenure College were at the exhibition with their project entitled ‘Conserving Conspicuous Road Markings’.

Rosanna Ní Artagáin, Isabella Nic Ambrois and Cara Ní Mhóraigh from Colaiste Iosagain, Stillorgan staged an interesting project entitled ‘Do school bags have an effect on your posture?’

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is much more than a competition – it is the experience of a lifetime for the students and teachers who take part.

Designed to raise schools’ engagement in the critical subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), the exhibition calls upon students aged from 12-19 years from all over the island of Ireland to showcase innovative science and technology projects to approximately 50,000 visitors who arrive each year.