THE BT YOUNG Scientist competition has received a record number of applications from the highest number of students in its 51-year history.

Some 4,616 students made 2,077 entries before the application deadline on 1 October, which is a 4% rise since last year – the event’s 50th anniversary.

Some 367 schools had entrants this year, from every county on the island except for Fermanagh and Armagh, according to a statement from organisers.

Later this afternoon, a spokesperson for the organisers confirmed that out of the 4,616 students who applied, 1,186 had entries accepted.

That’s up from 1,157 last year.

Significantly, 61% (724) of the students who had their entries accepted, and 54% of those who applied, are female.

However, just 39% of the overall winners have been female, over the 50-year history of the event.

Colm O’Neill, CEO of BT Ireland, which has sponsored the event since 2001, said:

We’ve now hit a new record with the 51st exhibition, receiving more entries than ever before and giving an unprecedented number of students an opportunity to be recognised and rewarded for their talent.

Source: Shane O'Neill Fennell Photograph

The Young Scientist competition is divided into three age groups: Junior (for 1st and 2nd years), Intermediate (for 3rd and 4th years), and Senior (for 5th and 6th years).

Last year, 120 prizes were awarded in four categories: Social and Behavioural Sciences; Technology; Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences; and Biological and Ecological Sciences.

The 2013 overall winners – Ciara Judge, Emer Hickey and Sophie Healy-Throw – went on to win the prestigious Google Science Fair in California last month.

The 2015 BT Young Scientist Exhibition will take place at the RDS in Dublin from 7-10 January 2015.

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