Eleven schools bid to retain BT Young Scientist title for Limerick in 2025

TWENTY-six projects from eleven Limerick schools that have qualified for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2025 are battling it out for the winning title.

Over 4,000 students from across the country entered the competition with a chance to represent their schools on a national level. 550 projects were shortlisted, 26 of those being Limerick-born creations.

The BTYSTE is taking place at the RDS this Wednesday, January 8, to Saturday, January 11.

Secondary school students from across Limerick are hoping to follow in footsteps of the 2024 winner, Sean O'Sullivan from Colaiste Chiarain, Croom.

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The eleven schools representing Limerick on the national stage are Scoil Pól, Salesian Secondary College, Glenstal Abbey, Desmond College, Coláiste Iósaef, Colaiste Chiarain, Castletroy College, Ardscoil Rís, Coláiste Nano Nagle and Mungret Community College and Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ.

Health has emerged as a key theme, accounting for over one-third (42%) of all project entries across a number of categories with topics covered ranging from the impact of vaping to mental health, to hospital queues. 

Shay Walsh, managing director of BT Ireland said: “This year’s entries reflect the dedication and creativity of students in Ireland in addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges today, and we see a shift towards more specific and detailed investigations within the project entries.

“In 25 years, we have seen many previous entrants go on to make a big impact in the STEM sector and change the world for the better. I have no doubt based on this year’s entries, that future alumni will continue on that same trajectory.”

There are over 200 prizes and a prize fund of well over €50,000 to be won.

These prizes are awarded across all five categories and age groups, including the overall BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) 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 will take place in Latvia.

The winner of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2024, Seán O’Sullivan, also placed second at the 2024 EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Katowice, Poland.

The 17-year-old from Pallaskenry is a 6th year student at Coláiste Chiarái, Croom and was recognised by the EUCYS judging panel for his BTYSTE winning project, titled ‘VerifyMe: A new approach to authorship attribution in the post-ChatGPT era’.  

He was also awarded the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair Prize.

At the EUCYS, Seán competed against 250 young scientists aged between 14 and 20 from nearly 40 countries in the EU, as well as guest projects from the United States and beyond.

Speaking on his achievement, Seán O’Sullivan said: “It was an honour to travel to Katowice, Poland and represent Ireland at one of the world’s most prestigious science fairs. With so many fascinating, important projects on display, I am absolutely thrilled to take home the second place prize at the competition.”

Scoil Pól, Kilfinane: City Greens: Growing Food with Hydroponics and Aquaponics for Sustainable Urban Farming and Visualise It! An interactive teaching tool

Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry: The Detection and Dangers of Microplastics

Glenstal Abbey School: A Study of the Formation of Hydraulic Jumps (“Holes”) in a River as Used by Freestyle Kayakers

Desmond College, Newcastle West: “Facial Rehabilitation: A Technological Approach for Bell’s Palsy Patients”, Chill “N” Heal Bandage, Using Benford’s Law To Detect Electoral Fraud and OtoInSight

Coláiste Iósaef, Kilmallock: Connected By Blood a Continued Study

Colaiste Chiarain, Croom: “Quantum Insights: Particle Profiling via Cloud Chamber & AI Analysis”, Discovering Habitable Exoplanets with the help of AI, An investigation to understand the reasons behind the falling trends of EV sales in Ireland, Which Plant is the Best Defence Against Ocean Acidification? The Big Irish Head On You!, Bó-Watch: An AI powered monitoring system for cows, Identifying AI Speech: the Future Of Cybersecurity with ZyphAI and SmartSpecs

Castletroy College: An investigation into the relationship between catch areas to the quantity of microplastics found in fish’s gastrointestinal system.

Ardscoil Rís, North Circular Road: Failed stars or hidden opportunities? An investigation into the likelihood of brown dwarfs supporting life within their orbits and “Inner Strength”: An investigation of crystal structures and how they scale.

Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street: ImiCircle and SettleEase: Empowering Immigrants to Thrive

Mungret Community College: To investigate the Influence of LED Light Spectral Variations on Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Vitamin C Composition and IndependentMe: An at home healthcare device to support independent living for people suffering from memory impairment

Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ, Limerick City : The Relationship Between Menstrual Health And Injury Rates In Female Athletes