Cork students among those competing in BT Young Scientist

Thousands of people descended on the RDS in Dublin for day two of the 61st BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) yesterday.

Nearly 150 Cork projects from over 40 schools across the county are among those being judged. They include 14 projects from St Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom, 14 from Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig, and nine from Kinsale Community School.

Thursday also saw the start of this year’s Primary Science Fair, an integral, non-competitive part of the exhibition, which gives third to sixth class primary school students across Ireland the chance to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and to make friends and have fun.

This year, more than 1,000 primary school students representing 35 schools across Ireland, including two in Cork, are showcasing their projects at the RDS Dublin. The projects are judged by former BTYSTE overall winners.

Anticipation mounting

Elsewhere at the RDS, anticipation was mounting among the BTYSTE participants, as they prepared for the winner to be announced today.

“It’s an honour to be a part of the judging panel at the 61st BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition and join all the team at BT Ireland in celebrating 25 years as custodian of this phenomenal event,” said 2025 BTYSTE judge Peter Taylor.

“I feel very lucky to have played a part at the exhibition throughout those years, first as a participant and overall winner in 2001 and now for several years judging the amazing projects from finalists.

“This year has been no different when it comes to the calibre of entries on display, and the judges and I have an extremely challenging task of choosing the winners in the hours ahead.

“The BTYSTE was my first exposure to the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and the exhibition played no small part in steering my career into a STEM field.”

Today, final judging and deliberation will get underway early, before the 2025 BTYSTE awards ceremony begins at 5.30pm.