- The 2025 Primary Science Fair also began today, which was introduced to the BTYSTE under its first year of custodianship in 2001
- This year, over 1,000 third to sixth class primary school students from 35 schools are taking part in the Primary Science Fair
- Thousands of members of the public visited the RDS Dublin for the second day of the BTYSTE, meeting over 2,500 primary and secondary school students and learning more about their incredible projects
- Limited tickets to visit the 61st BTYSTE tomorrow, January 10 and Saturday, January 11 are still available at https://ticketing.btyoungscientist.com
Thursday, January 09, 2025: Thousands of members of the public descended upon the RDS in Dublin for day two of the 61st BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) today, which also saw the curtain lift on this year’s Primary Science Fair.
The Primary Science Fair, which is an integral, non-competitive part of the exhibition, gives third to sixth class primary school students across Ireland the chance to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), make friends, and have fun!
This year, over 1,000 primary school students representing 35 schools across Ireland are showcasing their projects at the RDS Dublin today, January 09 and tomorrow, January 10. The ideas that students have developed across the seventy projects on display cover a wide range of STEM topics, such as biodiversity, energy forces and living things. The projects are judged by former BTYSTE overall winners, some of whom previously participated in the Primary Science Fair themselves, and who volunteer their time to support the growth of interest in STEM in younger generations.
Elsewhere at the RDS, the anticipation is mounting amongst the BTYSTE participants, as in just twenty-fours’ time, the winning projects will be announced. Finalists were at the ready to showcase their projects to the judging panel.
Speaking on the judging process, Dr Peter Taylor, 2025 BTYSTE judge said: ‘’It’s an honour to be a part of the judging panel at the 61st BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and join all the team at BT Ireland in celebrating 25 years as custodian of this phenomenal event. I feel very lucky to have played a part at the exhibition throughout those years, first as a participant and overall winner in 2001 and now for several years judging the amazing projects from finalists. This year has been no different when it comes to the calibre of entries on display, and the judges and I have an extremely challenging task of choosing the winners in the hours ahead.
The BTYSTE was my first exposure to the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and the exhibition played no small part in steering my career into a STEM field. I am delighted to see so many young people in Ireland enter the exhibition each year, and to see the event itself evolve into the national and cultural institution it has become today. I congratulate all this year’s finalists for their incredible work – they should be extremely proud for getting this far.’’
Tomorrow, final judging and deliberation will get underway from early, before the 2025 BTYSTE awards ceremony begins at 5:30pm. Anticipation is already building to find out which projects will be recognised this year, in addition to the announcement of the overall winner for 2025. Additionally, 60 brilliant stands from the exhibition’s partners, including the Department of Education, Analog
Devices, Amgen, Stripe and RTÉ will be set up throughout the RDS.
For more information on the exhibition, please visit the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition website or follow @BTYSTE on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube or Snapchat.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Amy Kennerk / Erica Brown
Teneo
085 835 5264 / 083 395 9458
- A full selection of pictures from today will be shared by Fennell Photography with photo desks and are also available on the exhibition’s portal
- Video highlights are available to watch on the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BTYoungScientists
Audiences around the world will be able watch the BTYSTE awards ceremony online for free, through the BTYSTE portal or on Facebook Live. Full instructions on how to access the portal are available here
About the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is designed to raise schools’ engagement in the critical subjects of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). The Exhibition calls upon students aged 12-19 years from all over the island of Ireland to showcase innovative science and technology projects. In 2022, the Exhibition reached almost 8 million visitors around the world through its virtual portal. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is supported by valued partners including the Department of Education, Analog Devices, Horizon, Stripe, and RTÉ. Learn more at www.btyoungscientist.com.
About BT Group
BT Group is the UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions and services. We also provide managed telecommunications, security and network and IT infrastructure services to customers across 180 countries.
BT Group consists of three customer-facing units: Business covers companies and public services in the UK and internationally; Consumer serves individuals and families in the UK; Openreach is an independently governed, wholly owned subsidiary wholesaling fixed access infrastructure services to its customers – over 650 communications providers across the UK.
British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/about.