Projects from ten Limerick schools shortlisted for BT Young Scientist 2025

TWENTY-four projects from ten Limerick schools have qualified for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2025. 

Over 4,000 students from across the country entered the competition with a chance to represent their schools on a national level. 550 projects were shortlisted, 24 of those Limerick-born creations.

The upcoming BTYSTE is taking place at the RDS from January 8 to 11, 2025. Secondary school students from across Limerick will hope to follow in this year’s winner's footsteps, Sean O'Sullivan from Croom. 

The ten schools representing Limerick on the national stage are Scoil Pól, Salesian Secondary College, Glenstal Abbey, Desmond College, Coláiste Iósaef, Colaiste Chiarain, Castletroy College, Ardscoil Rís, Coláiste Nano Nagle and Mungret Community College. 

Health has emerged as a key theme, accounting for over one-third (42%) of all project entries across a number of categories with topics covered ranging from the impact of vaping to mental health, to hospital queues. 

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Shay Walsh, managing director of BT Ireland said: “This year’s entries reflect the dedication and creativity of students in Ireland in addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges today, and we see a shift towards more specific and detailed investigations within the project entries. 

“In 25 years, we have seen many previous entrants go on to make a big impact in the STEM sector and change the world for the better. I have no doubt based on this year’s entries, that future alumni will continue on that same trajectory.”

There are over 200 prizes and a prize fund of well over €50,000 to be won. These prizes are awarded across all five categories and age groups, including the overall BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) of the Year Award, worth €7,500, which will see the winners go on to represent Ireland at the prestigious European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS), which will take place in Latvia. 

Full list of Limerick BTYSTE 2025 qualifiers: 

Scoil Pól: City Greens: Growing Food with Hydroponics and Aquaponics for Sustainable Urban Farming and Visualise It! An interactive teaching tool

Salesian Secondary College: The Detection and Dangers of Microplastics

Glenstal Abbey School: A Study of the Formation of Hydraulic Jumps (“Holes”) in a River as Used by Freestyle Kayakers

Desmond College: “Facial Rehabilitation: A Technological Approach for Bell’s Palsy Patients”, Chill “N” Heal Bandage, Using Benford’s Law To Detect Electoral Fraud and OtoInSight

Coláiste Iósaef: Connected By Blood a Continued Study

Colaiste Chiarain: “Quantum Insights: Particle Profiling via Cloud Chamber & AI Analysis”, Discovering Habitable Exoplanets with the help of AI,  An investigation to understand the reasons behind the falling trends of EV sales in Ireland, Which Plant is the Best Defence Against Ocean Acidification?, The Big Irish Head On You!, Bó-Watch: An AI powered monitoring system for cows, Identifying AI Speech: the Future Of Cybersecurity with ZyphAI and SmartSpecs 

Castletroy College: An investigation into the relationship between catch areas to the quantity of microplastics found in fish’s gastrointestinal system.

Ardscoil Rís: Failed stars or hidden opportunities? An investigation into the likelihood of brown dwarfs supporting life within their orbits and “Inner Strength”: An investigation of crystal structures and how they scale. 

Coláiste Nano Nagle: ImiCircle and SettleEase: Empowering Immigrants to Thrive 

Mungret Community College: To investigate the Influence of LED Light Spectral Variations on Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Vitamin C Composition and IndependentMe: An at home healthcare device to support independent living for people suffering from memory impairment