Seaweed to make slurry less smelly, more efficient running shoes, and birds predicting the weather are just some of the projects on display at this year's BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
The contest, which is in its 60th year, opened at Dublin's RDS today.
Over 550 projects from 219 schools are on display spanning the categories of technology; biological and ecological sciences; social and behavioural sciences; chemical, physical and mathematical sciences; and a new fifth category introduced this year for the 60th BTYSTE, health and well-being.
Students from St Joseph's Community College, Kilkee, Co Clare explored how seaweed can be used to make slurry less smelly.
"We're taking locally sourced seaweed and turning it into a biochar," said Caragh Killeen.
"When you mix it with slurry, it mitigates the odour and also slows the nutrient release when you spread it on the land so you get better quality soil and grass."
An entry from Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, Co Kerry asked if the menstrual cycle affects the concentration levels of girls at school.
"We found that it was physical pain that affected concentration rather than hormonal changes," said student Siún O’Brien.
Pupils from Coláiste Daibhéid in Cork designed a prototype for a more comfortable running shoe.
"In sport, we need more space on the top of the foot to move around so we made a prototype of a shoe where there's more room for your toes," said student Daithí Ó Ríordáin.
A judging panel of 85 experts from the world of STEM and business will choose over 200 prize winners, including the overall winning entry which will be awarded €7,500.
The winning entrant or team will go on to represent Ireland at the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) which will take place this year in the European City of Science 2024 - Katowice, Poland.
President Michael D Higgins officially opened the 2024 exhibition at a ceremony today.
"As we reflect on this year’s exhibits, and on their connection with the issues and challenges we face together on our shared vulnerable planet, may I suggest that there has never been a better time in which to be a young scientist," President Higgins said.
"Yes it is a challenging time, but it is so potentially fulfilling to know that the choices you make will have effects that are important, not just for your own time, but for the very possibility of life itself."
The 2024 exhibition marks the 60th anniversary of the BTYSTE which has become one of the longest running events of its kind in the world.
BT Ireland estimates that in the last 60 years some 150,000 young people have taken part putting forward over 100,000 project ideas, and over the past 35 years, 17 of the overall exhibition winners have won first place at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.
Many previous winners have developed their projects into successful commercial enterprises.
Patrick Collison, who won the exhibition in 2005, went on to form Stripe, a multibillion-euro payments company.
The 2024 Primary Science Fair will take place alongside the exhibition on Thursday and Friday giving 55 primary schools the opportunity to display their research and innovation to judges and visitors.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition opens to the public from Thursday to Saturday.
"Since its foundation by Dr Tony Scott and the late Fr Tom Burke, the exhibition has excelled as a platform for inspiring young people to use STEM to understand and improve the world," said Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland.
"It has served as a launchpad for many incredible careers, including that of John Monahan, our first ever winner, who joins us as a judge this week."
