Future looks good for young inventors

THE jobs will be there for them — that was the message Minister Micheál Martin had for the hundreds of “young Einsteins” showing off their science projects yesterday.

Attending the BT Young Scientist of the year competition, the Enterprise Trade and Employment Minister stressed that Ireland’s only future now lay in intellectual growth.

But the young boffins who packed into the RDS hall in Dublin were too busy to think about jobs, as judges yielded their pens and paper marching from stall to stall.

The country’s top teenage brains set out their stands for the 44th year of the competition. More than 500entries from around the country will engage judges’ minds over the coming days.

The projects were not only fascinating but of a high calibre, said Mr Martin.

“Science is the number one thing on our agenda and the encouragement and participation [of it] in Ireland.

Participation rates are rising but the quality of the projects is mind-boggling in many ways, to have a 13 or 14-year-old explaining what I would regard as relatively complex science issues is heartening and is a great source of optimism for the future.”

The IDA last week revealed that investments in 2007, many which were in research and development, created 9,200 jobs, some 2,000 fewer than the previous year.

Employment though would not be a problem for Ireland’s new scientists emerging from school, insisted Minister Martin.

He said there would “absolutely” be jobs for them adding: “The onlyfuture we have is to continue to invest in brain power and encourage people that go up the education chain, to particularly engage with science and technology.”

A total of 210 schools from across the country will take part this week accounting for 1,128 students.

About 36,000 visitors are expected to attend exhibitions, which continue through to Saturday afternoon. Doors open to the public from today.

Student entry costs €6, €12 for adults and family tickets for two adults and three children cost €30.

Secondary school groups of 20 or more cost €4.50 per pupil and similar primary school groups are €4 each. Teachers accompanying students have free entry.