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Entrepreneurial school students begin an intensive mentoring and innovation skills camp tomorrow at UCD which will equip them with the skills to take their ideas from the schoolroom to the boardroom. The BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp 2012 brings together 32 second-level students from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland who have demonstrated an ability to understand how and why ideas can be developed into commercially-viable enterprises. The students were selected in January 2012 from over 1,200 secondary school students who competed in this year’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition at the RDS in Dublin. The programme, established in 2010 by BT and delivered with NovaUCD, assists in bridging the gap between education and business — a challenge that Ireland needs to overcome to achieve its goal of developing an innovative economy and generating employment. It also allows BT to provide a next phase of development for the talented students who participate in its annual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Shay Walsh, Managing Director, Business, BT Ireland, commented, ‘Ireland has a rich, natural resource in the form of its young people. However, we need to cultivate a climate of commercialisation, and providing students with the tools they need to convert pioneering concepts into feasible solutions is an effective means of engineering. Technology, chemistry and biochemistry are industries in need of a healthy pipeline of talent and ideas, and the Government has reiterated its commitment to research and development in these disciplines. This BT programme is about giving these students the skills and, critically, the confidence, to create and develop the industries of the future.’ During... read more
The winner of the 48th annual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2012 has been announced! Leaving Cert students Eric Doyle and Mark Kelly, both aged 17, from Synge Street CBS, Dublin 8 have taken home the top prize for their project entitled, “Simulation accuracy in the gravitational many-body problem”. The announcement was made at the BT Arena at Dublin’s RDS this evening, by Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn, TD, along with Colm O’Neill, CEO, BT Ireland. Eric and Mark were entered in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences category, senior section. Eric & Mark were presented with a cheque for €5,000, tickets to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the opportunity to represent Ireland at the 24th European Union Young Scientist competition taking place in Bratislava in September and a Waterford crystal trophy. Almost 1,200 students from 30 counties covering 550 projects from 221 schools nationwide competed for the coveted title ‘Winner of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2012.’ Colm O’Neill, CEO, BT Ireland said, “The passion and enthusiasm we have seen from the students taking part this week has been outstanding. This year’s exhibition was bigger and better than ever before and the reaction from the students, teachers and visitors to the RDS this week has been amazing. We live in a continually changing world and what we have seen from the students this week is that they have the foresight and innovation to come up with real problem solving ideas that can help Ireland to grow and develop into the future. Huge congratulations to Eric & Mark and all the winners.... read more
BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Attracts Record Number of Projects and Schools for 2012 – 1,743 entries across 32 counties shows unprecedented interest – Increase in number of schools participating to 354 – Exhibition widened to now accommodate 550 finalists Dublin, Monday 24th October 2011: BT has today announced that it has received a record number of entries to the 2012 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. With 1,743 ideas entered by 3,842 students from 32 counties, never has the appetite from young people to drive growth and sustainability been as strong. Over the past 12 years, since BT took over as organiser and sponsor of the event, the quality and quantity of entries received from secondary school students have surpassed all expectations, and have garnered both national and international interest and acclaim. Competition to make it to the RDS in January is particularly high, with judges remarking on the impressive nature of entries this year, based on preliminary reviews. For 2012, BT has extended the space at the exhibition to allow more students to take part. There are now 550 places available, an increase of 30 on last year, allowing up to 90 additional students to take part in January. Through its investment in the exhibition, BT aims to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and commercialisation, thus driving skills and innovation for the benefit of Ireland Inc. Fostering this sense of participation in second-level education helps students have the interest and ability to progress to higher education institutions and enter the workforce as part of a well-equipped, resourceful talent pool. By focusing on skills, entrepreneurship and fresh thinking, these... read more
BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Winner Takes Home Gold for Ireland Alexander Amini Awarded First Prize in Engineering at EU Young Scientist Competition in Helsinki The 2011 winner of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, Alexander Amini, has been awarded first prize in engineering at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Helsinki today. Representing Ireland (North and South) Alexander beat off intense competition from students from 37 countries to win the top engineering award worth €7,000 as well as an honorary award of an all-expenses-paid trip to the London International Youth Science Forum. Each year the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition winner receives the honour of representing Ireland (North and South) in the annual EU competition. Colm O’Neill, CEO, BT said, “Alexander’s win in Europe today is a great endorsement of the talented students we see each year at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. It is a proud moment to see students like Alexander take top honours for Ireland at the European level, and serves as a reminder that we must do everything we can to arm them with the knowledge, skills and experience they will need to become Ireland’s next generation of leaders.” Ireland has continued to out-perform other countries at the EU competition, and over the past 23 years Ireland has taken home the overall title 13 times. Alexander, a student at Dublin’s Castleknock College, was just 15 years old when he took home the coveted 2011 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition prize for his project entitled, ‘Tennis sensor data analysis.’ The findings from Alexander’s project were proven to be... read more
Overall Science and Maths Results Cause Concern for ‘Smart Economy’. Dublin, 17th August 2011: Emer Jones, the youngest ever winner of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, has today received six A1s and four A2s in her Leaving Certificate results, achieving the maximum 600 points. Emer has bucked the disappointing trend in this year’s Leaving Certificate science and mathematics results and has already secured a place in the prestigious Cambridge University in the UK where she will study Physics. Emer achieved A1’s in Physics, Biology and Chemistry and an A2 in both Maths and Applied Maths. Emer was just 13 years old when she took home the overall prize for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in 2008. A student of Presentation School, Tralee, Co Kerry Emer’s project entitled “Research and Development of Emergency Sandbag Shelters” examined the use of native materials to enhance the stability of emergency sandbag shelters used in disaster relief. Graham Sutherland, CEO BT said: “Graduates skilled in science and mathematics are imperative if we are to address the challenges facing our country and build a Smart Economy. While this years Leaving Certificate results shows that some students may have struggled in these areas, we hope that with added support such as bonus points for maths and growing participation levels in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, more students will embrace these subjects to build a strong future for themselves and Ireland Inc. On behalf of BT I want to extend our congratulations to Emer on her outstanding results today.” Now in its 48th year the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition... read more
Dublin, Tuesday 5th April 2011: BT has today launched the 2012 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and committed to a further three years as the organiser and sponsor. BT will invest over €2 million over three years in the event, which has become the largest of its kind in Europe since BT became involved 12 years ago. BT has also today announced that it will increase its Travel & Accommodation grant by 50 percent to €75,000. The grant will be a boost to schools across the island of Ireland that require extra financial support to travel and stay in Dublin for the annual fair and competition in January. To date, BT has provided over €250,000 in grants to schools on the island since the scheme’s inception. The renewed sponsorship demonstrates BT’s commitment to economic and social development in Ireland, including investment in skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and communications and IT infrastructure. The exhibition encourages schools to embrace the critical skills of science, technology, engineering and maths, and provides a platform for innovative ideas to be recognised and showcased. Students from the exhibition have gone on to secure awards at international events such as the UK Young Scientist, the European Young Scientist and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the US. The exhibition has also been the launch-pad for students who have turned their innovative ideas into commercial opportunities and enterprises. Graham Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, BT Ireland, said, “We believe the exhibition ticks all the right boxes for the country, its students and BT – it helps stimulate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) skills, encourage innovation and... read more
BT Business of Science & Technology Programme recognises next generation of business leaders Five young entrepreneurs have been awarded summer placements in two Irish universities following their success at the BT Business of Science & Technology Programme 2011 held at NovaUCD. The secondary school students underwent an intensive course in commercialisation skills, and displayed a natural flair for business when tasked with creating viable businesses from ideas on pioneering sports equipment, biomass fuel development and a flood barrier for domestic use. A team comprising of Katie Pierce O’Shea from Coláiste na Sceilge, Co. Kerry, Barry Holland, from Clonakilty Community College, Co. Cork, Kate O’Regan, from Loreto College, St Stephens Green, Dublin and Romy Gerring from Banbridge Academy, Co. Down won the overall group award. The group worked on P-row-tect, a specially designed rowing glove Katie had entered into the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January. The judging panel was impressed by the marketability and originality of the product and Katie’s identification of a gap not currently filled in the market. The budding young entrepreneur is getting ready to target teams competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games. William Clackett also from Banbridge Academy, Co. Down was named best individual for the skills and business acumen he developed over the week of the programme. William’s project was based on research into the affects of loo roll choices on the environment. Colm O’Neill, Managing Director, Business, BT Ireland, said, “Business executives that worked with the students this week were given a real uplift – these budding entrepreneurs don’t focus on the negatives, they are too busy inventing the solutions.... read more
A team of five school students who work-shopped the project Smart Pipe: An automated water circulation anti-freezing system were chosen as the best overall group at the 2012 BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp, held at University College Dublin. They were evaluated by a panel of expert judges and course mentors and selected as the team that developed most during the programme. The members of the team are Matt Murtagh White (17) from Kilkenny College, Kilkenny; Emer Creedon (16) from Regina Mundi College, Cork; Adam Torrens (19) from South Eastern Regional College, Bangor; Deirdre Harford (17) from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Dublin; and Megan Doyle (16) from Skerries Community College, Dublin. Daniel Hobbs (17) from Maynooth Post Primary, Co Kildare was recognised as the best individual student during the week. The winners are awarded a summer placement at one of the leading third level universities in Ireland. The BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp is a week long business mentoring and skills programme devised and delivered by BT and NovaUCD. Following the intensive week of training and workshops, some students have stated they will change their academic direction, and in turn their future career, based on what they learnt during the week at UCD. 90% of those attending this week also stated they anticipate an Irish economic recovery to take 7 – 10 years while most students would like to pursue medical, science or business degrees at third level. Selected from January’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, 32 students who demonstrated an understanding of commercially viable opportunities, business acumen and innovative flair took part in the programme. Each student receives... read more
