Thirteen Limerick schools gear up for BT Young Scientist competition
THIRTEEN Limerick schools are up against stiff competition in this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) with the highest amount of entries in seven years.
Over 2,000 project ideas were submitted from 343 schools in 30 counties across the country with a variety of topics covered.
From January 11 to 13, 550 projects and hundreds of students will represent their school and community at the 2024 BTYSTE in Dublin.
Thirteen of those schools are from Limerick including Ardscoil Rís, Laurel Hill Secondary School, Villiers, Coláiste Nano Nagle and Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, all based in Limerick city.
Representing the county schools are: Castletroy College, Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom, Coláiste Íde agus Iosef in Abbeyfeale and Coláiste Iósaef Community College in Kilmallock.
Also based in the county and heading to the competition are: Desmond College in Newcastle West, John The Baptist Community School in Hospital, Salesian Secondary College in Pallaskenry and Scoil Pól Kilfinane.
The topics and projects covered by Limerick schools are listed on the right.
BT Ireland have revealed the top themes emerging from the project entries for the competition which include a variety of subject matter.
Of all the submissions for the 2024 exhibition, the most common project titles are focused on health (16%); mental, menstrual, sleep, medicine, ageing, and behaviour.
Mental health project entries covered a broad range of topics, such as beauty standards, sports performance, exercise and sleep.
A total of 2% of all entries specifically investigated the health and environmental implications of vaping, which suggests the awareness and concerns of young people around vaping.
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).
This year's contest 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 60th BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which takes place at the RDS Dublin from January 11-13, are available to purchase now on https://ticketing.btyoungscientist.com/