More than 1,100 student researchers will descend on the RDS in Dublin this morning as the annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition gets under way.
Now in its 44th year, this year's event has attracted record numbers of students and research projects, as the participants vie for the €5,000 top prize and to be declared the Young Scientist of the Year.
This morning sees the students setting up their project displays, with formal judging beginning immediately after the launch at 2pm. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin will officiate at the opening with Chris Clark, chief executive of main sponsor, BT Ireland.
Celebrity presenters Ray D'Arcy and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin will also be there to introduce the Minister and usher in Bjorn the polar bear and a lively performance by musicians, Pluck.
The competition involves students aged from 12 to 18 who will present projects in four categories: social and behavioural sciences; chemical, physical and mathematical sciences; biological and ecological sciences; and technology.
There are 394 group projects and 118 individual projects involving the work of 1,128 students. The Young Scientist of the Year will be announced on Friday afternoon by Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin.
Upwards of 36,000 visitors are expected to attend the exhibition, which continues through Saturday afternoon. Visitor will be attracted by the student projects, but also by the shows being staged during the event.
The 1,800-seater BT arena will see two main shows this year, with four performances daily. These are Visualise - the Beauty of Science, a mix of live science demonstrations, theatre and music; and Pluck, a group of three musicians.
They present a show about music, energy and the history of audio equipment, set to music by Mozart and Jimmy Hendrix, among others.
The Eco-Theatre will see performances by Bjorn the bear and Ursula, who will portray the threat to the Arctic posed by global warming. Visitors will also have a chance to experience what life at the poles actually feels like in the Polar Challenge, with temperatures brought down to a chilly minus 20 degrees in the Ice Tunnel.
The 44th BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin, opens to the public from tomorrow until Saturday, January 12th.
Entry for students and concessions costs €6, €12 for adults, while family tickets for two adults and three children cost €30. Secondary school parties of 20 or more cost €4.50 for each student and similar primary school groups are €4 for each pupil. Accompanying teachers have free entry to the exhibition.
Further information is available from the exhibition website, www.btyoungscientist.ie or by freephone 1800-924362 or from Northern Ireland on 0800- 917 1297.