Eleven projects by second-level students from Galway are set to feature in the 2023 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE ) next January, having being chosen from among 1,700 entries nationwide.
After closing for entries earlier this month, the BTYSTE judges selected the 550 projects which will be showcased at the exhibition taking place from January 11 to 14, 2023. Health, new technologies, agriculture, sport science, and environment are among the key trends which have emerged from the entries.
Health has come out as a top issue for students this year as 24 per cent of projects explore this area. Projects ranged from cancer research, allergy remedies, diet and nutrition, to ways to improve our sleep and cardiovascular health. The students also looked at new applications and technology-based solutions to improve everyday life for those living with a variety of illnesses and conditions.
The environment remains a key focus for young people taking part in the exhibition. This year 20 per cent of the projects entered tackled environmental issues across all STEM categories. For some students, finding solutions to coastal erosion and improving recycling methods are the main objectives, while others focus on exploring new ways to reduce carbon emissions. Students didn’t only turn their enquiring minds to the earth’s environment, but went beyond into space, with projects looking at how meteorites, the atmosphere, and space travel impact our world.
More than 10 per cent of projects featured new technologies, applications, or devices with students exploring topical areas such as road and water safety, sustainable energy usage, along with a variety of other novel ways that technology can assist and improve our daily lives.
Meanwhile, sport-based projects examining the science behind physical activity, tactics, nutrition, and results feature in over 10 per cent of projects. A further 10 per cent of projects look at how we learn, and new ways to improve cognitive processing of information.
The 2023 exhibition will be the 59th in the competition’s history, and first in-person event since 2020.
“We are so excited to welcome back students, teachers, and schools as well as the general public to our festival of science and curiosity the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition,” said Mari Cahalane, head of the BTYSTE. “The large volume of entries showcases the ambition, creativity, and dedication of students across Ireland.
“The BTYSTE is an inspiring way to start the year, and we can’t wait to meet all the students, teachers, and visitors, at the exhibition and enjoy the amazing projects and exciting programme of activities taking place.”
For participants and teachers, the exhibition offers a chance to win one of more than 200 prizes with a prize fund of over €35,000. The overall winner(s ) will take home the top prize of €7,500 and go on to represent Ireland at the prestigious European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Brussels, where Ireland has a strong history of taking home the prize for first place, with 17 wins over the past 33 years.
