Young talent - Appliance of science

The Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition has attracted a record entry of 1,735 projects involving 3,943 students this year. The competition is open to all secondary students throughout Ireland.

The importance of the initiative should be more apparent than ever at the present.

Education — especially in science and technology — holds a key for young people to help themselves and the country to get out of the current economic mire. British Telecom should be complemented for its role and for helping students from schools outside of Dublin to defray their travel and accommodation costs.

All the projects have been screened, and some 520 of those have been selected to go on display. Four other exhibition halls are also filled with science and technology based exhibits. Tánaiste Mary Coughlan is due to present the €5,000 prize for the Young Scientist of the Year to morrow.

President Mary McAleese and some 38,000 people are expected to visit the exhibition before it concludes on Saturday. This makes it one of the biggest events of its kind in Europe. The competition brings out the best in young people and provides valuable encouragement that augurs well for the future.