Over 1,100 student researchers descended on the RDS in Dublin today orning for the official opening of the annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
Now in its 44th year, this year's event has attracted record numbers of students and research projects, as the participants vie for the €5,000 top prize and to be declared the Young Scientist of the Year.
More than 70 judges today began the arduous task of assessing the 1,416 projects from secondary school students.
Among the diverse entries they will find out why penguins don't freeze, whether woman can multi-task better than men and about the hierarchy of turtles.
They will also see the timely application of science to address current problems such as an energy generating bicycle that can recharge a mobile phone.
Chief executive officer of sponsor BT Ireland Chris Clark said he has been hugely impressed with the students.
"They're all winners. And they are our future," he said. "It's not those who are in positions of public policy or in the corporate environment today who are the future.
"The future of Ireland really is dependent on these people - the school boys and girls who are stretching the boundaries of science and technology.
"Ireland is seen as global centre of excellence for technology but at the end of the day it is these schoolchildren who will be building on that for the future."
Some 500 exhibits will open to the public tomorrow before judges, drawn from academics and the commercial sector, complete their voting for the best entries on Friday afternoon.
"The thing that strikes me is the diversity on display from very deep science through to applied technology," added Mr Clark.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin officiated at today's opening. The exhibition opens to the public from tomorrow until Saturday, January 12th.
Additional reporting by PA