For the 4th year running, BT is implementing an accommodation grants scheme to encourage as many schools as possible to take up the opportunity to enter the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Schools located 70 kilometres or more from the RDS can apply for a grant of €100 per individual entry or €200 for a group entry, up to a maximum of €1,000 per school. In 2006 BT launched the Travel and Accommodation Grant scheme to support schools and students who were unable to enter the competition due to financial concerns. To date BT has provided grants to the value of €160,000, with over 440 schools in 31 counties benefiting from the scheme.
BT recognises that the expense of staying in Dublin during the week of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition can be a concern. The Travel and Accommodation Grant Scheme goes towards easing the financial burden for those who require overnight accommodation to participate in the exhibition.
“As we continue to promote science and technology in schools throughout the island, BT knows only too well that we also need to ensure that schools have the means to travel to the exhibition. Since its inception four years ago, our grant scheme has benefited a huge number of schools, allowing greater participation in this unique event and allowing the scientists and technologists of the future to come along and be part of it,” says Chris Clark, CEO, BT.
Organised and sponsored by BT, the exhibition is now entering its 46th year and recorded the greatest number of entries ever in 2009 when 1,616 projects were submitted. BT hopes the record will be broken for the 2010 exhibition and continues to work on enhancing the event to attract both visitors and students.
To further assist students taking part in this year’s exhibition, BT has revamped the competition website. The updated website contains everything students and teachers need to know about the exhibition including: entry forms, deadlines, a countdown clock to the closing date for entries as well as information about the travel and accommodation grant scheme. This year BT will also be engaging with students through social networking sites, Bebo, Flickr and Twitter, as well as providing an up to date blog for students to follow. Also featured on the website is the popular ASK US feature which allows students to post any queries or questions they may have to a panel of experts from companies across Ireland.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition will be held in the RDS, Dublin from the 12th – 16th January 2010. For more information on the exhibition, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com or call 1800 924 362 or from Northern Ireland 0800 917 1297.
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