BT_Young_Scientist_and_Technology_Exhibition

Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition

Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition

Irish annual school students' science competition

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 competition was founded by Tom Burke and Tony Scott in 1965.[1]

Exhibition stands in 2005

The competition

The purpose of the competition is to encourage interest in science in secondary schools. For the 51st year of the competition in 2016, there were over 2,000 entries, from 396 schools which was the highest number ever,[2] 550 of which were selected for the Exhibition at the RDS.

Students apply to participate in the competition. Their science project entries are evaluated by judges and about one-third of applicants are accepted to participate in the public exhibition. Students are allocated exhibition stands in an exhibition hall where they set up their projects for viewing by the public. Competing projects are judged during the three days of the exhibition, and prizes are awarded.

Projects are awarded in five categories: biology, physics, social and behavioural sciences, health and wellbeing and technology. Health and wellbeing is the newest category, only being added in 2023 to celebrate the 60th anniversary and to lower admissions to social and behavioural sciences. Three levels of entry are accepted, junior, intermediate and senior.[1] In each category three main prizes are awarded; other prizes include a display award, highly commended rosettes, and a cancer awareness award. The winners of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition advance to participate in prestigious international events such as the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.

John Monahan was the inaugural winner of the Young Scientist Exhibition in 1965; then a student of Newbridge College, his project was an explanation of the process of digestion in the human stomach. He went on to establish a NASDAQ-listed biotech company in California after attending University College Dublin.[3][4]

Aer Lingus sponsored the competition for the first 33 years.[1] 2021 marked the 21st year in which the Exhibition was sponsored by BT Ireland.[5] It has produced[clarification needed] at least one author, Sarah Flannery, and one billionaire, Patrick Collison.[5] Many of the past winners have gone on to establish international companies in the technology they developed. One of the most notable was Baltimore Technologies.

Tom Burke, who co-founded the exhibition with physicist Tony Scott, died in March 2008.[6] An award at the event (a bursary offered to senior participants) was named in his memory.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first ever virtual Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition was held in January 2021 with over 1,000 students representing more than 200 schools taking part.[7]

Overall winners by year

More information Year, Winner ...

Winners by age

The youngest winners are listed first.

More information Age, Winner ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Moriarty, Christopher (2003). Brian Lalor (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Ireland. Yale University Press. p. 1161. ISBN 978-0-300-09442-8.
  2. [2]
    "Historic High As 50th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Receives Record Number of Entries". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
  3. [3]
    "Key facts". BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. [4]
    Kennedy, John (10 January 2014). "Interview with the first-ever young scientist exhibition winner (video)". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  5. [5]
    "Knowledge economy tops agenda for Young Scientists". RTÉ. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2010. [dead link]
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    Sean O'Riordan and Niall Murray (10 January 2009). "Milk project wins school its second scientist gong". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
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    "First ever virtual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition kicks off today". Journal. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
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    "Previous Young Scientist winners: where are they now?". Irish Examiner. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
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    "BT Young Scientists Key Facts". BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. 18 February 2019.
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    "First 21 years of the Young Scientist". ISSUU. 25 April 2013.
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    "Top prize goes to Cork student". The Irish Times. 10 January 1998. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
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    "University College Cork(UCC): Study at UCC: Saol an Mhic Léinn : Student Profiles". University College Cork. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
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    "Investigating symmetrical shapes formed by polygons". The Irish Scientist. 2001. Archived from the original on 20 November 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
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    "Maths whiz lands Young Scientist Award". RTÉ. 11 January 2002. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
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    "Browser project wins Young Scientist award". RTÉ. 10 January 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
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    "Maths project wins Young Scientist". RTÉ. 9 January 2004. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
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    "Limerick brothers sell company for millions". RTÉ. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
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    "Aisling Judge DDN". Dustin's Daily News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
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    "The 19th European Union Contest for Young Scientists". European Union Contest for Young Scientists. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
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    "ABDUSALAM ABUBAKAR". Xclusive Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
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    "Kerry student wins Young Scientist of the Year". RTÉ. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  23. [23]
    Louise Hogan and Conor Bartley (12 January 2008). "Sandbags study helps Emer to top prize at awards". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  24. [24]
    Ahlstrom, Dick (14 January 2010). "Event 'bedrock' of smart economy, says Tánaiste". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 January 2010. Dundalk rock band Curtain Thieves played a set before an aerial act from Fossett's Circus took the stage, both giving impressive performances. BMX display riders Team Extreme then seemed to defy gravity as they spun across the stage, after which last year's young scientists of 2009, John D O'Callaghan and Liam McCarthy accepted the generous cheers and applause, remembering their RDS win but also coming first in the European Young Scientist Competition last autumn.
  25. [25]
    Ahlstrom, Dick (14 January 2011). "Game, set and match for Young Scientist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  26. [26]
    Ahlstrom, Dick (14 January 2012). "Maths project cracks it for enterprising duo". The Irish Times.
  27. [27]
    "Synge Street - where did it all go right?". The Irish Times. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  28. [28]
    "Two Irish students win European young scientist award in Bratislava". RTÉ Sport. RTÉ. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  29. [29]
    "Dublin students take European honours". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  30. [30]
    "Youngest ever winner of Scientist competition". RTÉ. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
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