Rathmore Grammar School won the prize for Best Northern Ireland School and student Eoin Rossney-Hyde took home the prize for Best Northern Ireland Project for his project at this year’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin.
Fourteen projects from eight schools in Northern Ireland participated in this year’s BTYSTE and were among the highest number of entries that BT received for the exhibition in eight years.
The 61st exhibition is a particularly significant milestone for BT, as the organisation celebrates 25 years as custodian and organiser of the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE). Since Dr. Tony Scott and the late Fr. Tom Burke created the YSTE in the 1960s, the exhibition has inspired many generations to look to STEM to improve the world around them, and in the past 25 years, BT has introduced several initiatives, including several specific to Northern Ireland, that have evolved the exhibition even further. These initiatives include:
· A bursary for senior category winners into one of eight third level institutions in Ireland, through the Irish Universities Association
· The BTYSTE is a partner of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Northern Ireland, allowing entrants to use their entry towards achieving the award, as well as an equivalent partner of The GAISCE President’s Award in the Republic of Ireland
· The first BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp in 2010, which provides 30 BTYSTE participants with commercialisation and entrepreneurship skills for their future careers?
· The introduction of the Primary Science Fair, the first science exhibition of its kind for 3rd to 6th class primary school students?
· The introduction of a travel and accommodation grant to help students who would need to travel considerable distances to compete at the BTYSTE, distributing £1.25million to schools across the island of Ireland since 2006.
Education Minister, Paul Givan, said: “Congratulations to the exceptional young people from Northern Ireland who were successful at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2025. This is a tremendous achievement and a well-deserved acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of those involved. Their innovative projects and commitment to solving complex problems reflect the remarkable talent and creativity nurtured within our schools.
This event highlights the critical importance of equipping our young people with STEM skills in a rapidly changing world. The exhibition winners are testament to the enthusiasm, innovation and depth of knowledge shown by our young people in Northern Ireland.”
Regional Director for BT Business Northern Ireland, Paul Murnaghan said: ‘’It has been a fantastic week at the RDS in Dublin, and I would like to congratulate all the Northern Ireland finalists of this year’s exhibition, including Eoin Rossney-Hyde who was recognised as a category winner this evening.
The incredible, STEM focused ideas of this year’s finalists demonstrate how bright the future is for the sector. It is a particularly momentous year for all the BT team on this island, as we celebrate 25 years as custodian of this incredible event, and I would also like to thank my colleagues who volunteered this week and made the 2025 exhibition so special.”