14 January 2023
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
The winners of the 59th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) have been announced. Shane O’Connor and Liam Carew, aged 19 and in sixth year in the Abbey School, Tipperary won with their project Assessing the impact of second-level education on key aspects of adolescents’ life and development. The coveted prize was presented to the winners this evening in the RDS in Dublin by Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh.
Meanwhile, Students from Cork have taken home 37 prizes from the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2023.
Background: The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is much more than a competition – it is the experience of a lifetime for the students and teachers who take part. 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 project. 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 several valued partners including the Department of Education, Analog Devices, Horizon, Stripe, and RTE.
Ireland South MEP, Billy Kelleher met students from a number of Cork secondary schools that were taking part in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in the RDS in Dublin this week.
Commenting after the visit, the Fianna Fáil MEP said, “The ability and talent of Ireland’s young people was firmly on display in the RDS. Their ability to think outside the box, to innovate and develop ideas and products that will improve society is simply awe-inspiring.
“As a country, we can be confident in our country’s future achievements in the fields of science, technology and innovation due to the success of this competition and the excitement it creates in schools about these topics right across the country,” concluded Kelleher.
Table showing Cork winners
| Award Title | School Name | Project Title | Students | Category |
| ABP FOOD GROUP FARM SAFETY AWARD | Árdscoil Uí Urmoltaigh | Investigation of a prototype tool belt to prevent musculoskeletal injuries in vets | John Buckley | Biological & Ecological |
| 1st Junior Group | St Mary’s Secondary School Mallow | An investigation into atmospheric microplastic contamination in both indoor and outdoor environments in the North Cork area of Mallow and potential health risks for humans. | Katie Mae O Neill, Anna O’Brien, Aimee Renton | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences |
| 2nd Intermediate Group | Gaelcholáiste Charraig Ui Leighin | Mata sa léim cuaille | Gráinne Cronin, Alex Neff, Dylan Ó Muirí | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences |
| 1st Senior Group | St Mary’s Secondary School Mallow | An investigation into the biomechanics of heading a football with implications for the design of protective, wearable technology for measuring and recording cumulative non-concussive cranial impacts. | Lydia O Leary Kelleher, Sophie Creedon | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences |
| 1st Junior Individual | Kinsale Community School | SteriAir – A portable UV sterilising breathing pack | Conan O’Brien | Technology |
| 1st Junior Individual | Kinsale Community School | Consuming Fish: The Carbon Footprint of Trawling | Elma Pallone | Biological & Ecological |
| 2nd Intermediate Individual | Bandon Grammar School | Investigation of the antimicrobial activity of Ilex aquifolium (common Holly tree) | Ruth Fair | Biological & Ecological |
| 2nd Intermediate Group | Colaiste Treasa | An investigation into the effectiveness of constructed farmland sediment ponds in promoting biodiversity as indicated by the presence of water beetles as bioindicators | Eve O’Driscoll , Susannah Guerin | Biological & Ecological |
| 3rd Senior Individual | Bandon Grammar School | Parasites in domesticated horses | Ellie Fleming Hand | Biological & Ecological |
| 3rd Junior Individual | Colaiste Muire | Binge drinking is a problem BUT could it be all in the pour? | Emily O’Regan | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| 2nd Junior Individual | Pobalscoil na Tríonóide | ‘Big P’ or ‘little p’? A study of young people’s conceptions of and engagement in politics. | Danny King | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| 1st Junior Group | Kinsale Community School | Imscrúdú ar nósanna athchúrsála cearta, ar dearcthaí daoine agus cloí leis na treoirlínte athchúrsála i measc an phobal i gcoitinne. | Jessica O’Keeffe, Martha O’Sullivan , Edel Ryle | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| 2nd Intermediate Individual | Colaiste Treasa | Examining the experiences and effects of overtraining in young athletes. | Eoin O Keeffe | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| 1st Intermediate Individual | Loreto Secondary School | Vaping Under The Influence: An investigation into the impact of social media on adolescent attitudes towards vaping | Leah Nolan | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| HEANET – IRELAND’S NATIONAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION NETWORK | St Aloysius School | An investigation into the differences in how men and women are treated in online gaming | Rachel Wallace | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| National Water Forum Award | Colaiste Treasa | An investigation into the effectiveness of constructed farmland sediment ponds in promoting biodiversity as indicated by the presence of water beetles as bioindicators | Eve O’Driscoll , Susannah Guerin | Biological & Ecological |
| eFlow STAR (Sustainable Transport Award Recognition) Award | St Mary’s Secondary School Macroom | Passenger Transport Emissions modelling to inform local and national school sustainable transport policy. | Lily O’Shea , Grace Kelleher, Caoimhe O’Brien | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| Health Research Board | Loreto Secondary School | Vaping Under The Influence: An investigation into the impact of social media on adolescent attitudes towards vaping | Leah Nolan | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| Horizon Educator of Excellence | Colaiste Muire Crosshaven | Briget Lehane | ||
| BT Educator of Excellence | St Mary’s Secondary School Macroom | Shannen Foley | ||
| Highly Commended | St Mary’s Secondary School Macroom | Construction and Evaluation of a DIY Air Filter | Holly Wenger, Leah Coakley | Technology |
| Highly Commended | Scoil Mhuire gan Smal | A.A.H.M (Anxiety Attack Heart Monitor) | Katelyn Dineen, Ella Lesniak , Michelle O’Shea | Technology |
| Highly Commended | Kinsale Community School | A C++ based AI to translate a live video input of Irish Sign Language to English Text | Ronan Hawkins, Ian Cullinane, Mark O Driscoll | Technology |
| Highly Commended | Kinsale Community School | An investigation into the impact of kinetic flooring as a renewable energy source in schools. | Oscar Green | Technology |
| Highly Commended | Coláiste na Toirbhirte | Sustainable Produce: Honesty Boxes vs Supermarkets? | Grace O’Mahony, Eanna Hickey | Biological & Ecological |
| Highly Commended | Colaiste Treasa | Population Dynamics and Reproduction of Invasive Australian Yabby in an Irish Lake | Thiha Kearney O’Sullivan, Ollie Cwikula | Biological & Ecological |
| Highly Commended | Colaiste Treasa | Assessment of the persistence of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae in peat soil. | Amy Roche , Catriona Browne | Biological & Ecological |
| Highly Commended | Kinsale Community School | Evaluate the impact of feeding strategies on Friesian Bull Calf Growth | Paddy Canniffe, Ronan Moloney | Biological & Ecological |
| Highly Commended | Glanmire Community College | An investigation into attitudes and awareness towards pain-medication in 15-19 year olds. | Robert O’Halloran | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| Highly Commended | Coláiste Choilm | The Manosphere… The Impact of Misogynistic Online Influencers on Young People’s Perception of Women. | Emily Duffy | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| Highly Commended | Colaiste Muire | I’ve got 99 problems but age ain’t one | Karen Cotter | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| Highly Commended | St Mary’s Secondary School Macroom | Can Ireland sustain producing its own quality baking flour with triticale amidst the current food crisis? | Lucy Murray | Biological & Ecological |
| Highly Commended | St Aloysius School | An investigation into the differences in how men and women are treated in online gaming | Rachel Wallace | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| Highly Commended | Coláiste Fionnchua | An investigation into sustainability practices on Irish farms and the factors that affect them – particularly the cost of living crisis as an influencing factor. | Zac Darcy, Colm King, Eoghan O’Donnell | Social & Behavioural Sciences |
| Highly Commended | Coláiste Choilm | Identifying patterns in Top Hit music using Fourier analysis | Fiona O Sullivan, Siobhán Carter | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences |
| Highly Commended | Kinsale Community School | Sustainable Cleaning Detergent | Anthony Coughlan, Ellie Coughlan | Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences |
| Highly Commended | Árdscoil Uí Urmoltaigh | Investigation of a prototype tool belt to prevent musculoskeletal injuries in vets | John Buckley | Biological & Ecological |
| Display Award | Skibbereen Community School | Constructing a Microbial Fuel Cell to Investigate the Electrical Power Output of Copious Organic Waste Samples | Ava Scarlett | Biological & Ecological |
| 2nd Intermediate Group | Colaiste Treasa | An investigation into the effectiveness of constructed farmland sediment ponds in promoting biodiversity as indicated by the presence of water beetles as bioindicators | Eve O’Driscoll , Susannah Guerin | Biological & Ecological |
| 1st Intermediate Group | St. Brogan’s College, Bandon | Human Neuro-Storage – A Contribution To Biological Memory And Learning | Tomás Markey, Leah Lordan, Clodagh O Sullivan | Biological & Ecological |
Photos of some of the Cork entrants
St. Brogan’s College, Bandon: Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Owen O’Cullivan, Philip Straub and Barry O’Shea (BT Ireland) at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.
Coláiste Fionnchua, Mitchelstown: Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Zac Darcy, Colm King, Eoghan O’Donnell and Barry O’Shea (BT Ireland) at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.
St. Mary’s High School, Midleton Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Diane Corcoran, Erin Anderson and Sarah Leigh Owers at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.
St. Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom: Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Lily O’Shea, Grace Kelleher and Caoimhe O’Brien at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.
Coláiste na Trionóide, Youghal: Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Danny King at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.
Millstreet Community School, Millstreet: Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Aoife Casey and Blaithín Dennehy at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.
Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire: Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Laura de Róiste and Barry O’Shea (BT Ireland) at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.
Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig: Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher with Grace Harris, Lisa Murphy, Karina Lyne (teacher) and Barry O’Shea (BT Ireland) at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, Dublin.