Students take a stand for science

IN the biting cold yesterday, Ireland’s budding boffins began descending on the RDS. Setting up their stands for the 46th BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition, the students will show off their talent at the Dublin venue for the next four days.

And with brains to burn, the competing schools will exhibit 514 stands with an array of innovative ideas and experiments on show.

BT chief executive Chris Clarke said: “After one of the most brutal years for many years and with a tough start to 2010 due to the snow, what better way to get 2010 back on track by being inspired by the young leaders of the future.”

Aspiring entrepreneurs from across 32 counties will fill the hall today, after Dublin students were first in the door.

A host of special acts are lined up for the students as well as the thousands of visitors expected.

For the extremists, a BMX display will see riders putting their bikes through every trick you would never have thought physically possible.

Another exhibition will demonstrate how celebrities and talented stars use science for their own goals – how can you bend a ball like David Beckham? In another show, viewers will see a host of interactive experiments, including where smoke rings are shot into the audience and rockets shot into the air.

But it will be the students’ own stands that will keep judges busy at the science event. And there’s a host of different themes on display.

“Among them are plenty of innovative ideas that could potentially be turned into the next big commercial success, so who knows, we may discover the next Google this week.” added Mr Clarke.

This year’s entries reveal a greater interest in social networking sites and gaming among competitors, say organisers, while there is also an emphasis on battling issues that have engrossed the country like floods and the spread of human swine flu.

The winner of this year’s student science competition receives a cheque for €5,000 and the BT Young Scientist trophy as well as the chance to represent Ireland at the EU Contest for Young Scientists in September later this year.

The competition will be officially opened by Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan today before judging begins. The awards will be presented on Friday. * www.btyoungscientist.ie