Check out the highlights from the 2015 exhibition... ...and see what’s in store for 2016! BTYSTE Foreword by Colm O’Neill Managing Director, BT Ireland & UK Corporate Dear principals, teachers and students innovation in digital technology, something that would not be possible without the creative and inventive minds of our 10,000 researchers and January 2016 will mark the 52nd year of the BT Young Scientist & developers who work for us across the globe. Attending the exhibition Technology Exhibition, once again cementing its reputation as the each year inspires me with hope and confidence in the next generation, longest running STEM event of its kind in the world – something we at BT for it is these young people who, by harnessing their skills in STEM, will are immensely proud of. lead and drive Ireland’s continued economic success in the years to come. If you are a past participant or friend of the exhibition I do not need to More than anything however, the BTYSTE is about having fun and explain to you role that the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition learning, so why not consider submitting an entry in this year’s exhibition. plays in bringing to life the critical subjects of science, engineering, With over 120 teacher and student awards to be won, there’s so much technology and maths. You’ll know that many people who have entered opportunity to succeed. And at the very least, by getting involved, you the BTYSTE in past years have gone on to become successful could get the chance to represent your school and community at the RDS entrepreneurs, academics and professionals in the fields of STEM. You in Dublin from 6th -9th January, 2016. might also be aware that simple project ideas created by students for the exhibition have since been developed into successful international Within the pages of this fact file you will find everything you need to business ventures. know about how to enter this year’s exhibition and why you and your school should get involved. Getting started couldn’t be easier. Simply put What the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition does is take an together a one-page proposal outlining your idea before our closing date academic subject out of the classroom and into a vibrant environment of September 29th. This Factfile will provide you with all the guidance where like-minded individuals explore fascinating new inventions, new you need as well as helpful tips and advice, including details of a financial ways of thinking, new solutions and new approaches to old ways of doing package we have put in place to support those living a certain distance things. And this is all done by people under the age of nineteen, backed from the exhibition venue in Dublin. by passionate teachers and parents who encourage, motivate and support this future generation of skilled professionals. Finally, we at BT could not deliver an exhibition of this scale without the support of our ever-growing eco-system of partners including the This is the very reason that we organise this exhibition year on year. BT, Department of Education and Skills in the Republic of Ireland, the as one of the world’s leading communications providers, is driven by Department of Education in Northern Ireland, Analog Devices, Perrigo, Intel and RTE. I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone at BT, to wish you the very best of luck in your entry and we look forward to receiving your creative ideas over the coming weeks. Colm O’ Neill, Managing Director, BT Ireland & UK Corporate. BTYSTE www.btyoungscientist.com 1 Contents The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2016 is supported by; 01 Foreword from Colm O’Neill 16 Your project 03 A Message from 20 Important information Jan O’Sullivan TD 22 Funding 04 A Message from John O’Dowd MLA 23 Timescales 05 The history 24 At the exhibition 06 BT Young Scientist Business 27 Teacher information Bootcamp 28 Parent/guardian 07 The why information 08 The awards 29 Additional student information 10 The how 30 Rules 12 Getting started 34 Photo gallery 14 What happens next This FactFile has been specifically prepared to help you and will prove invaluable as you prepare your project for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Of course, if you have any further queries do not hesitate to contact us at: BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, BT, Grand Canal Plaza, Upper Grand Canal Street, Dublin 4. Freephone: 1800 924 362 or BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Office, BT, Riverside Tower, 5 Lanyon Place, Belfast BT1 3BT Freephone: 0800 917 1297. Visit our website at: www.btyoungscientist.com 2 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2016 A Message from Jan O’Sullivan TD One of the highlights of my first year as Minister for Education and Skills was to be involved in Ceann de bhuaicphointí mo chéad bhliana mar Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna ab ea a bheith 16 Your project BTYSTE prize giving event. The enthusiasm, creativity and fun which surrounds the entire event páirteach in ócáid bronnta duaiseanna Thaispeántas Eolaí Óg & Teicneolaíochta BT, nó an BTYSTE is infectious and I certainly fell victim to its charms! mar a thugtar air. Rudaí tógálacha iad an díograis, an chruthaitheacht agus an spraoi a bhaineann leis an ócáid go léir agus chuaigh siad i gcionn orm go mór! Last year saw the highest number of entries in the history of the exhibition with a remarkable 20 Important information 2,077 projects submitted from all corners of this Island, both North and South . The national Bhí an líon iontrálaithe ba mhó riamh i stair an taispeántais ann anuraidh nuair a chuireadh 2,077 event in the RDS also attracted the highest number of visitors ever, with nearly 60,000 people tionscadal isteach ó ghach cearn den oileán, thuaidh agus theas. Mheall an ócáid náisiúnta sin san attending. By comparison the capacity of Semple Stadium in Thurles is 53,000. RDS an líon ba mhó cuairteoirí riamh chuige nuair a bhí beagnach 60,000 duine i láthair. Chun an 22 Funding figiúr sin a chur i gcomparáid le figiúirí eile, dá mbeadh 53,000 duine i láthair ag Staid Semple i One of the most positive aspects of the BTYSTE is to see the partnership and pride of both students nDurlas bheadh sé lán go doras. and teachers that the Exhibition promotes. We all know that the students are the stars of the 23 Timescales show, however, a special word of acknowledgement has to go to the teachers who guide and Ceann de na gnéithe is dearfaí den BTYSTE is ea breathnú ar chomhpháirtíocht agus ar bhród na encourage students on this voyage of curiosity and discovery. scoláirí agus na múinteoirí araon a chuireann an Taispeántas chun cinn. Tá a fhios againn go léir gurb iad na mic léinn réaltaí an taispeántais, ach tá aitheantas speisialta ag dul do na múinteoirí a Science and technology clearly have the capacity to capture the imagination of students. It is threoraigh agus a spreag iad ar a dturais fiosrachta agus fionnachtana. 24 At the exhibition important that our education system supports students to develop their skills in science, technology, engineering and maths. That’s why we are focusing on numeracy skills at primary Is léir go bhfuil sé ar chumas na heolaíochta agus na teicneolaíochta samhlaíocht na scoláirí a level, revising primary and post-primary curriculums and issuing new specifications for subjects spreagadh. Tá sé tábhachtach go dtacódh ár gcóras oideachais le mic léinn a gcuid scileanna a 27 Teacher information such as Biology, Physics and Chemistry at Leaving Certificate and a new Junior Cycle specification fhorbairt san eolaíocht, teicneolaíocht, innealtóireacht agus matamaitic. Sin an fáth a bhfuilimid in September 2016 ag díriú ar scileanna uimhearthachta ag leibhéal na bunscoile, agus go bhfuil athbhreithniú á dhéanamh againn ar churaclaim na bunscoile agus na hiar-bhunscoile agus ag eisiúint sonraíochtaí 28 Parent/guardian It is also why I am very proud that my Department provides significant financial support to the BT nua do na hábhair Bhitheolaíocht, Fisic agus Ceimic san Ardteistiméireacht agus go mbeidh Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. information sonraíocht nua againn don tSraith Shóisearach i Meán Fómhair 2016. This Factfile sets out the remarkable success story of the BTYSTE as it goes from strength-to- Agus sin é an fáth a bhfuil an-bhród orm go soláthraíonn mo Roinnse tacaíocht suntasach strength. The BTYSTE has a very special place in Irish education. Each year hundreds of people, airgeadais do Thaispeántas Eolaí Óg & Teicneolaíochta BT. 29 Additional student many who entered projects decades ago, still express their appreciation and fond memories of the information Exhibition. Each year the BTYSTE provides a platform for students to showcase their passion and Tá cur síos sa Chomhad Fíricí seo ar an rath iontach atá ar an BTYSTE agus é ag dul ó neart go neart. their curiosity in our rapidly changing world - long may that continue. Tá áit an-speisialta ag an BTYSTE in oideachas na hÉireann. Tugann na céadta daoine a raibh a dtionscadail féin acu istigh ar an Taispeántas fiche nó tríocha bliain ó shin le fios go bhfuil 2015 was a remarkable year for BTYSTE and I look forward to BTYSTE 2016. 30 Rules an-mheas acu ar an taispeántas agus go bhfuil cuimhní ceanúla acu air.Soláthraíonn an BTYSTE ardán do mhic léinn gach bliain chun a ndíograis agus a bhfiosracht a chur ar thaispeáint sa saol seo atá ag athrú go tapa - gura fada buan é. 34 Photo gallery Bhí an rath ar BTYSTE in 2015 agus táim ag súil go mór le BTYSTE 2016.