The largest Young Scientists' Exhibition ever staged, with 1,000 participants from the North and South, takes place this week. Some 30,000 people are expected to visit the main hall in the RDS when it opens to the public for four days from Thursday. The Esat Telecom Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, the 35th staging of the event, has attracted more than 470 projects in the main categories of chemistry, physical and mathematical sciences, biological and ecological sciences and social/behavioural sciences.
Analysis of this year's entrants confirms the trend of much greater female participation in the competition, which acts as a showcase of scientific research in second-level education. Some 62 per cent of entries were from girls, 38 per cent from boys.
Almost half the entries were in the social and behavioural category, while the other two categories accounted for approximately 25 per cent each of entries.
The Young Scientist of the Year and other top awards will be presented by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on Friday evening in a ceremony broadcast live at 7 p.m. on Network 2.
The President, Mrs McAleese, will visit the exhibition on Thursday, while main award winners with their parents and teachers will visit Aras an Uachtarain on Sunday.
Students will set up their projects during Monday and Tuesday. Judging will begin on Wednesday and continue until Friday. The exhibition opens to school tours on Thursday and to the general public from 10 a.m. on Friday.
Many science-related and social events, including a disco hosted by TV3's flamboyant weatherman, Martin King, are being held to coincide with the exhibition.
The Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy, is to open on Wednesday a "computer gym"; a mobile computer classroom complete with library and facilities to stage workshops. Sponsored by Esat Telecom, it comprises eight networked computers with full Internet facilities.
Meanwhile, a cyber cafe with 30 mobile PCs has been provided by Bank of Ireland. Intel, Xtravision, Siemens, Adidas and TnaG will also be mounting major exhibits at the RDS. The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, will be presenting special awards on Saturday.
The 1999 exhibition will be marked with a specially-licensed radio station, Rocket FM, on air from tomorrow on 96.7 FM.
A total of 16 students from around the country will manage and present a mix of live programmes between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day for the duration of the event.
