Seven projects from two Offaly schools qualify for BT Young Scientist exhibition
SEVEN projects from two schools in Offaly have qualified for the BT Young Scientist and Technology
Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2024.
Schools who entered the 2024 BTYSTE were notified of results recently.
St Brendan’s Community School, Birr, was successful with three projects in total. 'The Woodwide Web –
Do Plants Talk To Each Other?’, and ‘Paw Preference’ are both in the biological and ecological category
of the exhibition, while the ‘EcoEd Games’ project falls into the technological category. All three are group
projects.
Meanwhile, Tullamore College has been successful with four applications. ‘“Ah Sure Go On, What Harm
Could It Do? – An Investigation into the Toxic Effects of Vaping’, and ‘Growing the Future: Investigating
the growth of mycelium packaging using button mushrooms’, are both individual projects in the biological
and ecological category, while ‘Ethanol Evolution’ is a group project in the same category. Finally, ‘The
Wrist Assist’ is a group project that falls under the health and wellbeing section.
From January 10th-13th next, hundreds of students will showcase their innovative ideas in the areas of
Social & Behavioural Sciences, Technology, Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Biological &
Ecological Sciences, and a brand-new category being introduced for 2024, Health and Wellbeing.
Shay Walsh, Managing Director at BT Ireland commented, “At BT Ireland, we’re looking forward to
delivering the 60th edition of this national treasure in January. Each year we continue to be amazed at
the calibre of ideas and innovations that are submitted for consideration to the BTYSTE.
“The volume of exceptional entries we received for the 2024 exhibition shows that interest in science,
technology, exhibition, and mathematics (STEM)continues to grow, and we are looking forward to
recognising and nurturing new talent in the sector in the new year.”
Also commenting was Minister for Education, Norma Foley, who said: “It is fantastic to see the level of
engagement by students in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2024. It is an absolute
highlight of the school calendar each year.
“The interest from students in health-related topics demonstrates young people’s interest in that area,
and it’s great to see that the BTYSTE has created a new category for the 60th exhibition next year,
‘Health and Wellbeing’, that will enable secondary school students to explore that interest further.
“I am looking forward to visiting the Exhibition in January to see the exceptional ideas and innovations
being showcased by students across Ireland. I wish to congratulate each and every student who has
submitted a project to the BTYSTE, along with their teachers and parents who have supported them
throughout the process.”
There are over 200 prizes to be won and a prize fund of €50,000 for BTYSTE 2024. These prizes are
awarded across all five categories and age groups, including the overall BT Young Scientist &
Technologist 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 takes place in the
European City of Science 2024 - Katowice, Poland. Ireland has a strong record of taking home the prize
for first place at the EUCYS, with 17 wins over the past 33 years.
Tickets for the BTYSTE 2024 will be available for purchase later this month. For more information on the
BTYSTE, please visit @BTYSTE on X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.