Thousands of students will light up Dublin’s RDS as the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition kicks off tomorrow. The event brings together some of the country’s brightest young minds as they compete to take home the coveted title of the BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) of the Year 2017.

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins will officially open the Exhibition at a special ceremony on, Wednesday 11th January, attended by students, teachers, Exhibition partners and stakeholders, and presented by broadcaster Aidan Power and TG4’s Roisin Ni Thomáin. The ceremony will be streamed live on Facebook from 2 p.m.

There are 550 projects on show at this year’s Exhibition across four categories: Technology; Biological and Ecological; Social and Behavioural Sciences; and Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences. This year’s projects cover a wide variety of topics, from dating to farming and everything in between. Judging begins tomorrow afternoon, and the Exhibition opens to the public from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th January, with approx. 50,000 visitors, young and old, expected to visit the event over the course of the three days.

Speaking at today’s launch, Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland said; “This is a record-breaking year for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, with our highest number of entries to date. The quality of the projects on show this year is extraordinary, tackling some of the greatest challenges and opportunities facing society today -- from ground-breaking digital tools for people with disabilities to the global migration crisis. We are proud to provide this amazing platform for young people for the 17th year, and to play our part in fostering and recognising STEM talent in Ireland.”

The winner(s) of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, to be announced on Friday, will be presented with a cheque for €5,000, the BTYSTE perpetual trophy, and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. The winner will also receive the opportunity to represent Ireland at the 30th EU Contest for Young Scientists in Tallinn, Estonia later this year.

Alongside the student project showcase, the Exhibition features a jam-packed programme of special events, including mind-blowing live shows, interactive education, and ‘Dream It, Do It’, a free careers event headlined by founder of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and former Manchester United player and England captain Rio Ferdinand. Doors will open to the public at 9am on Thursday 12th January, with tickets available at the door costing €7 for students, €12 for adults and €25 for a family pass which includes two adults and two children. To register for the free ‘Dream It, Do It’ session, visit here.

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is the ultimate family day out and a must for anyone with a passion for science and technology. For more information, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com, download the app on Google Play or iTunes, or follow the exhibition on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @BTYSTE.

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