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IF THERE’S A sign that the future of Ireland is in good hands, it could be the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which is running at Dublin’s RDS until Saturday.
When TheJournal.ie ventured in to see what was on offer at the 550 stands, we met teens with great ideas, big plans, and who were brimming with confidence.
Over the next three days we will bring you some of the secondary school students we met at the RDS, but there are even more down there whose work is on display until Saturday.
Yes, the event will have winners in a number of categories, but it was clear from this year’s participants that the joy in the exhibition is the process rather than the competition.
Students have worked on projects about farming, mould, food, road safety maths problems, and even what to feed hens. Some were working on solutions to everyday problems; other students were grappling with concepts that many adults would find it hard to grasp.
The exhibition is now in its 50th year, and on Saturday the astronaut Chris Hadfield will pay the teens a visit. Perhaps one of those he meets will become an Irish astronaut; just like their predecessors over the past five decades, many of the students are destined to go on to great things.
Here’s the first of our looks at what goes on at the event:
(Video TheJournal.ie/YouTube)
Aoife.
I’ve a suggestion for an article:
Former BT young scientist winners, where are they now?
Obviously I’m too lazy to look this up myself but I promise you I’ll read the article and leave a positive* comment. Let the thumbs decide if this is something other readers might be interested in.
Very good idea it would be interesting to see are they rejects or successful.
I once won my category (2007 I think it was) and I’m studying something that couldn’t be less related to my project. Great experience all the same!
came 2nd in my category in 1988, when Dublin was great. Loved every min of it. I still have 2 photos up in the house of me in the National papers. One looking down a microscope & another with minister of education Mary O’Rourke. Remember the judging, the handbook, the disco and snogging some girl from Loreto Foxrock. Guy who won my year outright was something to do with computer music.
Never been back since but taking my boys down on Sat from Belfast to see it. Can not wait to just be in that hall and experience the noise.
2001 Triple award winner! And look where I am now :-(
Great to see a foreign company helping Irish students.
Amazing event and well worth the effort of visiting!
Anything that encourages kids to get involved in technology is a good thing.
I wonder is there’s any bright sparks there who might help us tackle the Pylon debacle…
Check out Ireland’s first “Inside Engineering Night” on Thursday the 13th February! It’s like culture night but for technophiles!!!
http://www.engineersweek.ie/events/?event_id=1549
I’ve travelled up from Cork a few years. Its fantastic. So worth it. The buzz is great. All the stands are interesting. Loads of freebies. Great companies do displays and fantastic interaction with kids. Everyone talks to everyone. Its just a great family day out and I’m not a nerd!
If your so smart seamus o connor you would surely know how to spell their.
Why is a British company sponsoring this? Wasn’t it Aer Lingus one time did it? What next, Israeli Telecom sponsors the Late Late Show? And we wonder why the economy is battered!
If these students are so smart why are they wasting there precious time on a idiotic project?
Well they don’t waste time with bitchy comments for a start.
4,418 students applied for the BT Young Scientist Exhibition. 1,200 are exhibiting their projects. Around 3200 kids who now feel they aren’t good enough.
I believe SciFest (http://scifest.ie/) has a better entrance procedure. It gives everyone a chance. You are not judged on an application form.
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