Science exhibition to be out of this world

WHILE 1,200 students nervously display their projects to the judges, visitors to the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2012 are being promised a range of “out-of-the-world” acts to add to the entertainment.

The last of the 551 projects from students of 221 schools are being set up this morning after being selected from almost 1,800 submitted last autumn. They will be judged over the next two days and winners are to be announced at the RDS in Dublin on Friday.

However, with about 30,000 visitors expected to come and see their wares after the exhibition opens today at lunchtime, organisers have also arranged attractions with a strong theme around sci-fi and space exploration.

NASA astronaut Dan Tani will be on site to recount his experiences in the International Space Station orbiting the Earth, fresh from a tour of schools to share details of his exploits.

The venue will also play host to a Robot Wars show, featuring Skeletron from BBC’s Technogames taking to the skies inside the arena to climb a 10-metre-high rope.

More general science themes will be evident throughout other performances on the RDS stage, including Amoeba to Zebra, a musical exploration of the natural history of Earth. Irish theatre company Little Big Top Circus will be showcasing a blend of circus and science with tricks, acrobatics and music.

BT chief executive Colm O’Neill said the organisers were excited about the activities lined up for audiences during the week.

“We’d really encourage people to come along, show your support for the students who have come up with innovative ideas to create a better future, and also to enjoy the special acts, entertainment and exhibits on show,” he said.

Meanwhile, a €3.75 million project being led at Dublin City University is to help revolutionise how science is taught and assessed in classes.

The SAILS (Strategies for Assessment of Inquiry Learning in Science) project, which was launched by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, will offer teacher training workshops here and in 11 other EU countries, as well as online supports to help teachers share experiences and methods.

DCU president Professor Brian MacCraith said enhancing how students learn in science, technology, engineering and maths was crucial for Ireland’s knowledge economy and that SAILS would support schools in encouraging problem-solving and exploratory learning.

Leaving Certificate biology students are this week getting the chance to undertake mandatory practical experiments on the curriculum in third-level laboratories, as lecturers, researchers and teachers-in-training at University of Limerick offer revision sessions for schools in Munster.