Free registration is open at https://portal.btyoungscientist.com/
Day 1 of judging kicks off virtually for BTYSTE 2021
06 January 2021: Day 1 @ BTYSTE: The 57th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition kicks off today as over 1,000 students from over 200 schools across the island of Ireland are taking part in the first ever virtual BTYSTE.
At 1pm today, President Michael D. Higgins will give the Opening Address at the official opening ceremony of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2021, which can be viewed for free on the BTYSTE portal and on Facebook Live. Free registration is open at https://portal.btyoungscientist.com/
Students were up bright and early setting up their projects and are now eagerly waiting on for the first round of virtual judging to begin this afternoon, with over 80 judges volunteering their time this week.
The virtual exhibition hall is jam-packed with exciting events, with something for all ages. During the three-day exhibition, guests will hear from some very special guests, watch live entertainment acts and teachers will have access to a myriad of workshops at the new dedicated Teachers’ Area.
Making her debut on the main stage at 2pm today will be Danielle Wilcox, winner of the first ever BTYSTE ‘Irish Scientists Have Talent’ competition held by BTYSTE earlier this year. Danielle, a telescope operator, and resident astronomer at the Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork, will showcase the different types of telescopes used at Blackrock Castle including “Big Bertha” a large telescope used for imaging super massive black holes.
Also taking place on the first day of the virtual exhibition is a show on how to become an Astronaut by Irish astronaut Norah Patton and Mark Langtry the Science Guy, the Institute of Physics Lightening Show and a ‘Connecting Women in Technology Event’ called Tech Starter at 7pm.
Speaking ahead of the Connecting Women In Technology (CWIT) Tech Starter event Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science commented “We are more aware than ever of the central role of science in our lives. Today’s event is designed to support and encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
The new and emerging technologies of the 21st century have developed at unprecedented pace and have transformed the way that we all live and work. Digitalisation is here to stay and will be a key influence on our economy and our society. That is why we need young people like the students at this event to develop the skills for a more digitised future and to reach for the great possibility it presents.
We need lots of different role models to be visible and to show the next generation that they can also follow their dreams in science. We have to deal with the gender gap that persists in the sector.
Currently just over a third of STEM academic staff members in Irish universities are women. I am determined we need to do better here, and believe strongly in the maxim - if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”
Keep your eyes peeled for our picture of the day in this evening’s round-up!
What’s On - Day 1 @ BTYSTE
Wednesday 6th January 2021
9am: Our Amazing Universe: A journey of discovery - Travel through space and time to learn about some of the amazing discoveries we have made about our own Solar System and out into interstellar space and the universe beyond
10am: Aeronautical engineer and POSSUM Astronaut Candidate Norah Patton and Mark Langtry the Science Guy will take to the stage for Spaced Out at ExploriumIrish astronaut Norah Patton and Mark Langtry the Science Guy will take to the stage for Spaced Out at Explorium
11:30am: Interview Series: John Monahan – Tune in for a discussion with the first ever winner of the Young Scientist
12pm: Institute of Physics Lightening Show - Explore the wonders of Electricity with the in this electrifying display of one of natures’ most exciting phenomenon
1pm: President Michael D Higgins to give Opening Address at BTYSTE 2021 Opening Ceremony – live on BTYSTE website and on Facebook Live
2pm: Winner of ‘Irish Scientists Have Talent’, Danielle Wilcox and Telescopic show
3pm: Science of Sport with Mark Langtry
4pm: Molecules to Medicine: Making medicines in a global pandemic – Join Professor Luke O’Neill as he chairs a panel discussion on making medicines in a global pandemic
7pm: Tech Starter event opened by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
If you have any further queries, require information or would like to coordinate any interviews, please don’t hesitate to contact the following:
Sinead Reilly, sreilly@hanovercomms.com, M: +353 85 842 1970
Conor McCrave, cmccrave@hanovercomms.com, M: +353 87 765 0970
For more information on the exhibition and for details on how to enter, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com or follow BTYSTE on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube or Snapchat (username: BTYSTE) Follow #beyondlimits and #BTYSTE
BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition: 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 projects. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is organised by BT, and is supported by several valued partners including the Department of Education, Analog Devices, CISCO, Perrigo, and RTE. Learn more at www.btyoungscientist.com.
About BT: BT Group is the UK’s leading telecommunications and network provider and a leading provider of global communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities in the UK include the provision of fixed voice, mobile, broadband and TV (including Sport) and a range of products and services over converged fixed and mobile networks to consumer, business and public sector customers. For its global customers, BT provides managed services, security and network and IT infrastructure services to support their operations all over the world. BT consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer, Enterprise, Global and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Openreach, which provides access network services to over 650 communications provider customers who sell phone, broadband and Ethernet services to homes and businesses across the UK.
For the year ended 31 March 2020, BT Group’s reported revenue was £22,905m with reported profit before taxation of £2,353m.
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.