BTYSTE 2017 launch, Victoria Square, Belfast with Peter Morris (Head of Operations, BT, Northern Ireland) and David Meade
- Top illusionist joins BT in call for entries to the 2017 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
Belfast, Monday 6th June, 2016: Top illusionist and television mentalist David Meade today joined students in the dome at Victoria Square for a science lesson 148ft high to launch the 2017 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.
BTYSTE 2017 launch, Victoria Square, Belfast with David Meade
Proving that science is not just lab coats and Bunsen burners, David helped students take their learning to new heights by hosting the dome’s first ever interactive science lesson in a bid to encourage young people to ‘Dream it, Do it’ and enter this year’s competition.
The science lesson was hosted by BT to mark the official launch of the 2017 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and today the company called on teachers and young people aged 12-19 from across Northern Ireland to get involved in the exhibition which will take place in January 2017.
To enter, the individual or group must submit a one-page proposal outlining their project idea before the closing date of 28th September, 2016. Entries can be made in any one of four categories within the STEM agenda: (science, technology, engineering and maths).
Commenting on the launch, David Meade said:
“I am very excited to be involved in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for a second year as I’m a huge advocate of anything that inspires and encourages young people to pursue their dreams and continue to learn. As a former teacher myself, I understand the importance of encouraging young people to take what they’re learning in the class room or their day-to-day life and use their imagination to turn it into a fantastic idea, something which I practice regularly in my line of work.
“In my experience it’s about keeping an open mind, being open to new lessons, new experiences and new science. This world class competition is a great way of helping students imagine the possibilities that could lie ahead by simply dreaming it and doing it.”
Peter Morris, Head of Operations, for BT in Northern Ireland, added,
“As a major investor in Northern Ireland we depend on talent and skills to drive our economy and the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition plays a key role in nurturing that future pool of talent.”
He added, “We’re keen for students to start thinking of science beyond its traditional form. Students who have experienced the exhibition understand that it is about much more than science, it’s about imagining an idea and then bringing that idea to life through research and development. Every discovery ever made came from a single idea and we want all teachers and students involved in science, technology, engineering, maths or the social sciences to challenge themselves to make that next big discovery through the exhibition. I’m looking forward to seeing some great entries over the coming months.”
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition will take place 11th-14th January 2017 in the RDS in Dublin. As well as the incentive of getting a project shortlisted and experiencing a week at the exhibition in Dublin, there are also over 120 teacher and pupil awards to be won, including cash prizes, international trips and the overall title of BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) of the Year.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Dream it, Do it’. For more information on the exhibition and for details on how to enter, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com.
ENDS
For further information
For further information please contact:
Claire Bickerstaff or Seona McGrath Smarts Communicate, (028) 90395500
Claire.bickerstaff@smartscommunicate.com / seona.mcgrath@smartscommunicate.com
About the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is much more than a competition – it is the experience of a lifetime for the students and teachers who take part. The original idea for the exhibition came about in 1963 when two Irish physics researchers Rev. Dr. Tom Burke and Dr. Tony Scott, happened upon the concept of ‘Science Fairs’’ while conducting research in New Mexico, America. These local school science exhibitions culminated in State Fairs and ultimately a national competition, which showed the pair that this type of hands-on science was something that Irish students could benefit from, by taking science outside the four walls of the classroom.
In 2000, BT, a leader in technology innovation, took over the organisation of the Young Scientist exhibition and since then the competition has expanded far beyond science. Today, winning projects can range from social and behavioural research, to new inventions, to solutions to major world problems and much more.
In recent years the number of entries has increased dramatically, reaching an all-time high this year when over 2,000 projects were submitted. All entries are screened to select just 550 projects to go through to compete in the RDS in Dublin in January. Each year, the event attracts over 50,000 people making it one of the largest events of its kind in Europe, if not the world! Learn more about this fantastic event at www.btyoungscientist.com. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is supported by a number of valued partners in Northern Ireland including the Department of Education Northern Ireland and MATRIX.
About BT
BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. With effect from 1 April 2016, the group has been reorganised and the customer-facing lines of business are now: Global Services, Business and Public Sector, Consumer, EE, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2016, BT Group’s reported revenue was £19,042m with reported profit before taxation of £3,029m.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.btplc.com
