O’Dowd hails north’s young scientists at Dublin exhibition

Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has congratulated local students who have taken part in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2012.
~ Friday, 13 January 2012

The exhibition, held in the RDS, Dublin, involves 550 projects by science students from right across Ireland, with over 120 awards made for the best entries. Thirty-two projects from 17 schools and one further education college in the north of Ireland qualified for this year’s event.

Speaking during a visit to the exhibition, Minister O’Dowd said: “The modern world is developing at great pace all the time and it is essential that Ireland is equipped to play its part economically, socially and technologically. The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is an excellent way to encourage our young people to get involved with, and enjoy, the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects that are so central to this vision.

“The event has been running for almost 50 years and is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. This year entries were submitted from all 32 counties, with 550 projects gaining the chance to exhibit in Dublin. The standard is incredibly high and competition for prizes is keen, which only serves to drive the participants to improve.

“There is an immense energy in the exhibition hall, generated by the enthusiasm and enjoyment of the young people and the pride they clearly have in their projects. I am especially proud of the schools from the north that have qualified for the finals and am very encouraged that they are comfortably competing at this level.”

The Minister added: “These young scientists will go on to help shape our future society. My hearty congratulations go to every one of them for their efforts and I wish them the very best as they continue in their learning careers.”

This is the 48th year of the event and the 12th year with BT as chief sponsor and organiser. The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2012 received 1,743 entries from 355 schools in 32 counties. Schools from the north submitted 75 projects from 32 schools.

Projects are submitted under one of four categories: Technology; Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Biological and Ecological Sciences; and Social and Behavioural Sciences. A team of 80 judges from academia, business and the public sector will decide which projects win the 120 awards available.

Notes to editors:

1. Institutions from the north of Ireland that qualified for the final are:-

• Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar, Newry – 2 projects
• Ballyclare High – 2 projects
• Banbridge Academy – 1 project
• Bangor Grammar – 1 project
• Christian Brothers Grammar, Omagh – 1 project
• Grosvenor Grammar, Belfast – 1 project
• Integrated College, Dungannon – 1 project
• Loreto Grammar, Omagh – 2 projects
• Methodist College Belfast – 1 project
• Rathmore Grammar, Belfast – 1 project
• St Colman’s College, Newry – 2 projects
• St Killian’s College, Ballymena – 1 project
• St Louis Grammar, Kilkeel – 2 projects
• St Mary’s College, Derry – 7 projects
• St Mary’s, Limavady – 1 project
• St Patrick’s High, Keady – 1 project
• Wellington College, Belfast - 4 projects
• South Eastern Regional College – 1 project
• Banbridge Academy, Bangor Grammar and St Mary’s Limavady qualified but did not attend the event.

2. Watch video from the Department of Education on our YouTube channel.

3. Media queries, contact the Department of Education’s Communications Team on Tel No: 028 9127 9701. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440.