The Esat BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is one of the world's longest-running competitive science fairs for students. Established in 1965, more than 500,000 people have visited the Young Scientist Exhibition since its inception.
This year's event has seen the largest number of applicants yet with 2,583 students asking to attend, offering 910 projects. From this number 477 projects were selected and more than 1,000 students will promote their efforts over the next few days at the RDS in Dublin.
Last year's event in January involved more than 1,400 students and 430 projects, with visitor numbers reaching 30,000. The first Young Scientist Exhibition attracted 230 students and 5,000 visitors.
Girls outnumber boys by three to two in terms of students who exhibit projects, but to date 56 per cent of the winners of the exhibition have been boys.
The first winner was John Monahan from Newbridge College, Co Kildare. He is now president of his own biotech company, Avigen Inc in California. The first female winner, Mary Finn from the Ursuline Convent, Sligo, took the top prize the next year in 1966.
Last year's Young Scientist was David O'Doherty of Gonzaga College, Dublin, the first Dublin winner in 10 years.