The President, Mrs McAleese, has officially launched the Esat Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2002 to fireworks, confetti and in the company of a rope-climbing robot.
The event opens to the public this morning and continues until Saturday evening.
Mrs McAleese presided over the elaborate opening ceremonies at the Royal Dublin Society yesterday, the first time in its 38-year history that such fanfare was used to mark the event.
More than 1,400 students, teachers and organisers crowded into a hall adjoining the main exhibition area to watch the show.
Skeletron, a "female" robot powered by liquid nitrogen, set things in motion by descending a 25-ft- high rope to wave at the audience, welcoming them to the RDS.
Performers from Macnas, accompanied by their trademark pounding drums, mesmerised the audience. Introductions were handled by master of ceremonies Mr Craig Doyle from Dublin. He is a former presenter of BBC programmes Tomorrow's World and the travel show, Wish You Were Here.
Mrs McAleese welcomed the students who she said provided "great hope" for the future of Ireland.
They had shown "commitment and dedication" in producing projects accepted for the exhibition. "We want an achieving Ireland and you are the people who do the achieving," she added.
Judging of the projects got underway yesterday afternoon and continues today and tomorrow morning, when the judging panel will finalise its results.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will announce the winning projects tomorrow evening.
The public has access to the exhibition from this morning with visitors welcome until it closes on Saturday evening.
People will be able to tour around the student projects and also visit exhibits, demonstrations and presentations organised as part of the event by companies and State bodies.
A 100-seat mobile cinema will be in place and open for business at 11.30am this morning with a screening of The Snapper.
Its author, Roddy Doyle, and actress Tina Kellegher, will be on hand at 1 p.m to answer questions about the film and its making.
Several dozen company exhibitors have taken space in the World of Science & Technology display in the Industries Hall directly behind the main exhibition hall at the RDS. BTexact Technologies and Intel have major displays and State bodies on hand include the Food Safety Promotion Board, National Safety Council Garda Traffic and Forensic Science departments, Irish Blood Transfusion Board, the EPA, Dublin Zoo and others.
Other new features include an internet café and the violent robots from the popular BBC programme Robot Wars including the successful Irish robot, Diotóir, or "Destroyer". Student researchers are competing for cash prizes worth more than €2,600.
The top group or individual wins €1,270 and an opportunity to participate in the EU's science fair.
The second placed group or individual wins €635 and runner-up group and runner-up individual projects each win €380. The exhibition is open each day from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Student and concession tickets are €3, adults are €6 and family passes for four are €12.
