Clare students and schools prepare for BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

Students from a number of schools in County Clare are completing their final preparations ahead of next week's BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

Nineteen projects from six schools across the Banner County have qualified for this year's event.

Over 4,000 students from across the country entered the competition with a chance to represent their schools on a national level. A total of 550 projects have been shortlisted.

The upcoming BTYSTE will take place at the RDS in Dublin from January 8 to January 11, 2025. Secondary school students attending schools in Clare will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the 2024 winner - Sean O'Sullivan from Colaiste Chiarain in Croom, County Limerick. 

The six schools which will represent Clare on the national stage early next year are Mary Immaculate Secondary School; St John Bosco Community College; St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point; St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla; St Joseph’s Community College and Ennistymon Community School

Overall, health has emerged as a key theme, accounting for 42% of all project entries across a number of categories with topics covered ranging from the impact of vaping to mental health, to hospital queues. 

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Commenting following the announcement of the qualified entries, Shay Walsh, managing director of BT Ireland said: “This year’s entries reflect the dedication and creativity of students in Ireland in addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges today, and we see a shift towards more specific and detailed investigations within the project entries. 

“In 25 years, we have seen many previous entrants go on to make a big impact in the STEM sector and change the world for the better. I have no doubt based on this year’s entries, that future alumni will continue on that same trajectory.”

There are over 200 prizes and a prize fund of well over €50,000 to be won. These prizes are awarded across all five categories and age groups, including the overall BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) of the Year Award, worth €7,500, which will see the winners go on to represent Ireland at the prestigious European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS), which will take place in Latvia.