Round Up - Day One at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition
The 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition sprang to life today as 1,100 students from 244 schools across the island descended on the RDS to set up their projects and begin to prepare for the days ahead.
In a rousing speech to a packed house of young scientists, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar opened the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2019. Speaking to the students, he expressed his admiration at the calibre and creativity of this year’s projects. The topical nature of students’ projects “suggests that change is coming”, he said, encouraging students “to keep innovating, to keep creating and to keep using your imagination to create a better world.”
BT Ireland MD, Shay Walsh congratulated all students on their participation in BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, in what is now the longest-running science fair of its kind, in not just Ireland but the world. This is the 20th consecutive year for the technology giant, BT, to organise and sponsor the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and BT Ireland confirmed today that it would be extending its agreement to sponsor this historic event until 2023.
Meet the Meath School Students exhibiting projects at BTYSE
Speaking today, Walsh said “BT Ireland is celebrating 20 years of partnership with Young Scientist this year and are delighted to extend our commitment to future exhibitions. As organiser and sponsor, we have the honour of working with so many organisations and individuals dedicated to giving a platform to all young people to share their ideas on how to create a better world. This iconic exhibition has proven that the power of science and technology combined with the power of youth can change the world.”
Further inspirational messages were shared with the assembled audience from Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh. Much to the delight of the young scientists and technologists, world-renowned Professor Brian Cox took a tour of the exhibition to talk to students about their projects!
Later in the day the RDS was a hive of activity as the first-round of judging got well underway.