Young Scientist Exhibition: Drummers, boy band Zoo and million-volt lightning bolts heralded the opening of the 2006 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS in Dublin. Formal judging is under way and the winning project will be announced tomorrow. Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor, reports.
President Mary McAleese was guest of honour at yesterday's opening ceremonies which were hosted by presenter Ray Darcy and current Rose of Tralee Aoibheann Ní Shúilleabháin.
The exhibition's organisers let fly with a fast-paced opening show that had the students cheering and stamping their feet throughout the proceedings.
It opened with a giant robot, Titan, which threatened to take over the world until its plug was pulled. It also included a dramatic and energetic drumming performance from MacTeo led by Johnny Donnelly and involving eight drummers and dozens of huge drums.
The President praised the students for their hard work, describing the event as "a world class exhibition of the best of Irish brain power". She described the opening atmosphere as "electric", adding that the fascinating projects on display "tell you about the genius of our students".
"It is lovely to see that enthusiasm, to see that talent," said Mrs McAleese. "The message you are sending out from the RDS is that science and technology are fun, they are fulfilling," she told the more than 1,000 students assembled for the opening event.
The student scientists represented 172 schools in 29 counties, and this year's event was the largest yet held in its 42-year history, stated BT Ireland's chief operations officer Mike Maloney. The company had committed to funding the exhibition for the next three years and BT was proud to have the opportunity to sponsor and organise the event, Mr Maloney said.
Author and presenter Simon Singh delivered some static electricity at the opening proceedings with two Tesla coils capable of delivering million-volt lightning bolts. To add to the fun he climbed into the "coffin of doom" placed in the path of the bolts between the two coils. The wire mesh cage protected him from the electricity and he emerged unscathed to thunderous applause from the students.
The 2005 BT Young Scientist winner, Patrick Collison of Castletroy College, Limerick, also attended the opening event and described what last year's win had meant to him.
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is the largest event of its kind in the world and is one of the longest-running youth science fairs anywhere.
More than 1,150 projects were entered and these were shortlisted to the 500 now on display at the RDS.
Formal judging began yesterday afternoon at the end of the opening show and a second round of judging gets under way this morning. Judging will be completed tomorrow midday and the top four projects will be announced at the awards ceremony tomorrow evening.
The event opens to the public today from 10am and there is much on hand to attract visitors. Simon Singh partnered with Prof Richard Wiseman will be creating more lightning bolts in their Theatre of Science show and people will be able to sample "bush tucker", a collection of edible insects at the Eating Creepy Crawlies stand.
The Primary Science Fair involving about 40 primary schools also gets under way at the Exhibition today. The mainly 6th class participants are every bit as enthusiastic as their older school colleagues.
The exhibition remains open until Saturday evening.