Thinking caps on for young scientists

THE prospect of following in the footsteps of Dublin teenager Abdusalam Abubakar, who was this week named one of Europe’s top young scientists, is looming large for thousands of students.

They are already preparing entries for the 2008 BT Young Scientist & exhibition, being held in Dublin in the New Year.

Abdusalam claimed top prize in this year’s contest last January, and was awarded one of the three top prizes in the EU contest for young scientists in Spain on Monday. The third-year student at CBS Synge street in the capital only arrived in this country from Somalia two years ago, but has received major recognition for his mathematical code breaker project.

But while there are more than three months until the exhibition at the RDS, organisers must receive entries by Friday October 5. They are expecting more than last year’s record 1,278 submissions to compete for the 500 coveted places.

“The quality and the quantity of projects submitted for entry has increased in recent years, so all second-level students are urged to put their best foot forward and work on a strong submission straight away,” said BT Ireland chief executive Chris Clark.

“Now is the time for those thinking caps to go on again, as we look forward to discovering the scientists, mathematicians and technologists of the future,” he said.

The BT Young Scientist & Technology exhibition runs from January 9 to 12 and is open to the public from January 10 to 12. For more information, visit: www.btyoungscientist.ie or call 1800 924 362.