Record Number of NI Entries for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 66 per cent increase in number of Northern Ireland entries

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2010 has increased in popularity amongst Northern Ireland students, with a massive 66 per cent jump in entries received from schools across all six counties.

The substantial increase shows a marked interest in the world-leading exhibition from Northern Ireland students and teachers. The event, now in its 46th year, is open to all students aged between 12-18 years across the island of Ireland. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition aims to foster interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects, amongst students, at an early age.

83 projects have been entered from a total of 198 students and 34 schools across six counties — the highest ever from Northern Ireland.

Chris Clark, CEO, BT said, 'The increase in local entries is good news for the competition but also good news for Northern Ireland. Graduates in STEM subjects are essential to our future economic prosperity. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition seeks to harness a passion in students for STEM subjects in the hope that they will cultivate this through to third level and beyond.

'The significant rise in NI entries would not have been possible without the support of many stakeholders including the Department of Education, CCEA, Young Enterprise NI and Junior Achievement — for which we are extremely grateful' continued Chris.

Caitríona Ruane, Minister of Education, added, 'It is amazing that we are now entering the 46th year of this exhibition which is now a national institution in Ireland and is recognised worldwide. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to secondary level students to show their ideas to a captive audience.

'Last year over half of the entries from schools in the north made it through to the final, well above the national average, with ten schools receiving recognition at the RDS. There are even more entries from the north this year and I hope to see this high degree of success repeated as the competition progresses towards the final exhibition in Dublin in January. I welcome the special prize this year for the best entry from the north.'

The Department of Education has provided £25,000 sponsorship for the 2009/10 event.
This year's entries at a glance:

• 198 NI students have entered
• 83 projects
• 34 schools from all six counties
• Co Antrim (20), Co. Armagh (9), Co. Derry (28), Co. Down (9), Co. Fermanagh (8),
• Co. Tyrone (9)
• Total of 1,586 projects entered for the exhibition across the island
• 520 projects will take part in the final, an increase of 20 places on last year

Projects entered in all four categories including:

• Technology 198 entries, Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences 303 entries, Biological & Ecological Sciences 533 entries, Social & Behavioural Sciences 552 entries
• 57 per cent entries are female and 43 per cent are male
• 80 per cent of entries are group entries and 20 per cent are individual entries

Due to the unprecedented level of interest, BT has allocated 20 additional places at the exhibition. This brings the number of projects that will be displayed in the RDS in January up to 520 in total, making the exhibition as accessible and inclusive as possible.

BT also recently launched the Business of Science & Technology, a new programme that will give students the business knowledge they need to turn their innovative ideas into commercial opportunities. The 40 students will be selected at the exhibition and mentored by leading executives from BT, Bombardier, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Bord Gais Eireann, IP Innovations, UCD, TCD, Engineers Ireland and Bank of Ireland on subjects such as protecting intellectual capital, global marketing and international business. The programme is designed to bridge the gap between education and business.

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2010 will take place in the Main Hall, RDS, Dublin 4 from 12th — 16th January 2010. Doors will be open to the public from Thursday, 14th — Saturday, 16th January. For more information on the exhibition please visit www.btyoungscientist.com or call 0800 917 1297.