Eight Waterford projects are among the 550 going on display for the BT Young Scientist Exhibition today.
President Michael D Higgins will officially open the event in Dublin later this afternoon.
Over 1,100 school students will be present in Dublin’s RDS for the 59th BTYSTE.
The event, which showcases research and innovation in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), will be in person this year for the first time since 2020, following two successful virtual exhibitions.
The ceremony will be streamed live on the BTYSTE website and on Facebook Live from 2pm.
Two Waterford schools, Gaelcholáiste Phort Láirge and Blackwater Community School, will be taking part.
Gaelcholáiste Phort Láirge will be submitting a group project on chemical, physical, and, mathematical science.
'An bfhuil tionchar ar cruth cosantaí cósta eagsúila ar frithcaitheamh tonnta?' is the title of their project, which aims to explore coastal protection measures.
Blackwater Community School will be submitting seven individual projects on topics ranging from technology to social and behavioral science.
The titles of the projects are:
- A Statistical Analysis of Secondary-level Students' Opinion Towards Third Level Education and Apprenticeships,
- Analog Computer using Water,
- How much is a teenager's hearing range affected by their age,
- How raising awareness of online disinhibition can lower cases of cyberbullying in teens,
- Hydrogen Powered Viscous Boundary Layer Jet Engine Concept,
- Where is the Truth? The Effects of Media Propaganda on Ireland,
- An ecological survey to examine effect of rhododendron and conifer trees on biodiversity of upland habitats.
Speaking ahead of the exhibition, President Michael D. Higgins said, “What a great time it is to be a young scientist – challenging, yes, but so potentially fulfilling to know that the choices you make will have effects that are important, not just for your own time but for the very possibility of life in its diverse forms, on our vulnerable planet. May I suggest to all of you that as a young scientist, you will be at your best, achieve the greatest fulfilment for yourself and others, when you locate your contribution within a commitment to be concerned and contributing global citizens.”
Organised by BT Ireland, the exhibition has become one of the leading school STEM exhibitions in Europe, attracting over 100,000 student participants since the first event in 1965.
At the heart of the exhibition are the 550 projects from 212 schools which span the categories of Technology; Biological and Ecological Sciences; Social and Behavioural Sciences; and Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
Following judging by the 80 plus-person judging panel, the BT Young Scientist(s) & Technologist(s) of the Year 2023 will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday 13th January at 5:30pm.
The overall prize winner(s) will receive the BTYSTE perpetual trophy and be presented with a cheque for €7,500. The winner(s) will go forward to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Brussels in September.
Ireland has more wins that any other country involved, with 16 wins in 32 years under our belt.
Also taking place alongside the BTYSTE is the Primary Science Fair, now in its 21st year, bringing together hundreds of primary students from across Ireland to the RDS on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th to showcase their projects.
The Primary Science Fair plays a pivotal role in the primary academic calendar in Ireland and allows our very young scientists to tackle issues with science and technology and develop their love of discovery too.
The exhibition opens to the public on Thursday 12th until Saturday 14th January when a fantastic festival of science can be experienced alongside the brilliant student projects on display.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue. Visitors can plan their visit to the RDS in advance by downloading the free BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition app, available on Android and Apple devices.
Full of helpful information, the app includes an exhibition map, a search tool for student projects and exhibitors, a schedule of events, as well as links to the BTYSTE social networks for live updates throughout the event.
For more information, visit www.btyoungscientist.com
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