Opening ceremony:Break-dancers, a robot, a magician and a Minister joined forces to officially open the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2007 at the RDS in Dublin. And for good measure, Irish band Director finished off the event with a new song.
The exhibition got into full swing with more than 1,100 students arriving at the RDS yesterday morning to set up their 500 research projects in time for formal judging to begin after the opening ceremonies.
The Young Scientist for 2007 will be announced tomorrow.
Presenters Ray D'Arcy and physicist and former Rose of Tralee Aoibheann Ní Shuilleabháin compered yesterday's opening, introducing BT chief operations officer Mike Maloney who in turn invited the Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin to speak.
Mr Martin described the atmosphere in the RDS as "electric" and congratulated the students for their hard work and commitment to their research projects.
The exhibition was a "showcase of young Irish talent" and it was no surprise that winners at the RDS often went on to win prizes in the European young scientist competition, he said.
"I was very struck with the articulate manner that the students were able to present their research," he told The Irish Times before the opening ceremony.
The show opened with an energetic performance by break-dance group, the Physical Jerks.
The 2006 Young Scientist winner, Aisling Judge, who at 14 was the youngest winner yet of the competition, was also introduced on stage.
Magician and conjurer Keith Barry dumbfounded the student audience with his own brand of magical science and the Rubik Cube solving robot, Mr Rubot, reset a scrambled cube in less than 60 seconds.
The exhibition opens to the public this afternoon as the students are put through their paces by the panel of academic and expert judges, who generously volunteer their time for the event.
It is also open tomorrow and all day Saturday with up to 40,000 people expected before the exhibition closes on Saturday at 5.30pm.
