Updated 11.17PM

THE OVERALL WINNER of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition was tonight announced as Paul Clarke from St. Paul’s College, Dublin.

The fifth year student was presented with the winning trophy by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn in the RDS in Dublin this evening.

Clarke’s project was on the mathematical subject of graph theory, specifically contributions to cyclic graph theory:

Speaking to TheJournal.ie earlier in the week Clarke said that he enjoyed the opportunity to undertake a more niche project for the exhibition.

"Pure mathematical subjects are certainly not the most common in these kind of general science competitions - so it's great to bring some balance to the whole equation," said Clark, "and get people realising how much pure mathematics actually contributes to their world."

The trophy presented to Clarke was designed by 19-year-old graphic design student Jowita Rogalska and will be the perpetual trophy for the overall winner of the competition beginning from this year, the 50th year of the event.

Clark was also presented with a cheque for €5,000 and will represent Ireland at the 26th European Union Young Scientist competition taking place next September.

Best Group wwas won by first year students Cathy Hynes aged 12 and Eve Casey aged 13 from Kinsale Community School, Cork for their project, “A study using statistical methods of people’s attitudes to the aging workforce of the future”.

- Additional reporting by Aoife Barry

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