Taoiseach Enda Kenny today officially opened the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2012, at the RDS in Dublin. Speaking at the opening, the Taoiseach said:
I very much hope that some of the projects researched and exhibited here today will be the start of yet more ground-breaking discovery, innovation and application.
This is BT’s twelfth year sponsoring and organising the Exhibition. Generosity is not a science, but it certainly gives youth and innovation their chance. In these straitened times I’m delighted that it will continue to do so for at least another two years.
And along with BT, we must thank also the 20 more ‘partner organisations’ who make this event happen.
The Taoiseach spoke of the growth of the exhibition since its inception in 1965:
From small beginnings of 230 entries, the event has grown to become one of the biggest and best of its kind in the world.
This year there are 550 projects. Selected by the judges from over 1,740 projects submitted by 4,000 students from all 32 counties.
No easy task. No easy achievement.
34,000 visitors will see your work in action. So, making it to this stage is a win in itself. Congratulations!
The Taoiseach continued:
The Government is investing strongly, strategically in science and technology-research even in this time of such scarce resources.
In 2012 alone, over €370million has been allocated to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to support enterprise-related research and innovation and the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions.
Read the Taoiseach's full speech here.
View some clips of the Taoiseach's speech and the Young Scientist Exhibition below...