Cork BT Young Scientist awardee hailed as an 'inspiration' during visit to carbon tech company

Promising young Cork technologist and category winner in this year’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, Tomás Markey, has visited an Irish company pioneering the climate change technology that scooped him the coveted award.

A student at St Brogan’s College in Bandon, Tomás was the winner of this year’s Best Overall Individual award and the Analog Devices Technology award at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for his direct air capture (DAC) project.

The keen science and technology student visited Waterford-based carbon capture tech company, NEG8 Carbon, to share ideas and learn from leading engineers and scientists working in this breakthrough field.

Mr Markey won the award for his work on developing a scalable and affordable DAC unit called ‘PM-DAC: A System for Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere’.

Dr John Breen, chief technology officer at NEG8 Carbon, said direct air capture is a fast-moving technology and having talented students interested in addressing climate change in a meaningful way augurs extremely well for the sector in Ireland.

“By winning this award, Tomás has highlighted the important role that technology and science will play in fighting climate change.

“He stands as a talented inspiration for other young people who are considering Stem careers and shows what can be done with curiosity, a willingness to learn and persistence,” Dr Breen said.

Speaking following his visit to NEG8 Carbon in Waterford, Tomás said: “I really enjoyed my visit out to the NEG8 Carbon team. Touring the ready-to-use spaces left me with a real sense of excitement and hope for direct air capture developing in Ireland.

“Addressing climate change requires a series of cumulative actions and companies like NEG8 serve as a prime example. I look forward to being actively involved in this field over the next number of years.”

As well as winning the overall individual BT Young Scientist prize, Tomás also partnered with team-mates Joseph Reidy, Luke Bailey, and Conor O’Neill, to win the Intercom Track at the Hack Ireland event for their app, Bundles — “the notes app that talks back”.