Over 2,000 students from across Ireland have qualified for the 2024 BT Young Scientist Exhibition, which will be held in Kilkenny. The exhibition will showcase innovative projects in various fields, including AI, mental health, and inclusion. A total of 19 projects from seven schools in Kilkenny have qualified for the event.
The exhibition received an impressive 2,042 project entries from 4,166 students representing 343 schools. These entries highlight the interest and enthusiasm of secondary school students in Ireland for topics such as AI, diversity and inclusion, and mental health.
The projects will be displayed in five categories: Social & Behavioral Sciences, Technology, Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Biological & Ecological Sciences, and Health and Wellbeing, which is a new category introduced for the 2024 exhibition.
The BT Young Scientist Exhibition has a rich history and will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year. The event offers more than 200 prizes, with a prize fund of €50,000. The overall winner will receive the prestigious BT Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year Award, worth €7,500, and will represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.
The announcement of the qualified projects revealed several interesting themes. The top themes emerging from the entries include AI, diversity and inclusion, and mental health. Students have put forward projects investigating the evolution of currency in the digital age, the link between executive function and ambidexterity, and the effects of social media on athletic performance, among others.
There are several notable projects from different schools in Kilkenny. Castlecomer Community School has three group projects that qualified, including studies on the evolution of currency, executive function and ambidexterity, and the science of success in group versus individual study. Coláiste Pobail Osraà has two individual projects, while Loreto Secondary School boasts six qualifying group entries.
The exhibition is highly anticipated, and both students and schools are excited to participate. The Minister for Education, Norma Foley, congratulated the students for their hard work and expressed her support for the exhibition. BT Ireland, the organizer of the event, is looking forward to delivering this national treasure for the 60th time. They have been consistently amazed by the caliber of ideas and innovations submitted each year.
As the countdown to the exhibition begins, students are preparing to showcase their extraordinary work to a wider audience. The BT Young Scientist Exhibition plays a crucial role in nurturing young talent in STEM fields, and the 2024 event promises to continue this tradition. Tickets for the exhibition will be available for purchase later this month.
In conclusion, the 2024 BT Young Scientist Exhibition in Kilkenny will bring together over 2,000 students who have qualified to showcase their innovative projects in various fields. The exhibition highlights the students’ interest in AI, diversity and inclusion, and mental health. With a rich history of 60 years, the event offers numerous prizes and opportunities for young scientists to shine. Everyone involved is eagerly awaiting the exhibition, and it is sure to be a remarkable showcase of talent and innovation in Ireland.
