At Home and Abroad

Oisín Jackson - Irish Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE) past winner and current competitor. Founded in 1965, the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is a student showcase of original research projects. Each year, thousands of students submit proposals, with only about 500 projects selected for display at the four-day exhibition in Dublin. During the event, students present their work to panels of judges and the public. The exhibition culminates in an awards ceremony, where prizes are distributed and one team or individual is named the overall Stripe Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year. Founded by UCD physicists Tom Burke & Tony Scott for secondary students (12-19) presenting original science/tech projects, fostering creativity and national scientific engagement, with past winners like the Collison brothers (Stripe founders) achieving great success. Oisín Jackson from Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare has been announced as the winner of the Met Éireann Award at the 2024 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE). The award was presented during a spectacular ceremony at the RDS last Friday night, by Met Éireann meteorologist, Joanna Donnelly, based on Oisín’s investigation into the relationship between precipitation and water levels in turloughs in the Burren. Remarkably, the result means Oisín has won the Met Éireann Award for a second successive year, following the recognition of his earlier work in analysing the relationship between precipitation and river discharge in the Aille River catchment area at last year’s event. Met Éireann was one of a host of official partner organisations in this the landmark 60th anniversary of the BTYSTE, which showcased research and innovation in the form of 550 student projects from around the country. Formally opened by President, Michael D Higgins on Wednesday afternoon, the exhibition attracted thousands of students, teachers, and members of the public through the RDS arenas over the course of three action-packed days. As one of Met Éireann’s largest education and outreach events of the year, a team of staff from across the organisation, ably led by Ann Marie Woods, was on hand throughout to engage with visitors, and support in nurturing an interest in and love of science, technology and engineering. https://stripeyste.com/