The Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, commonly called the Young Scientist Exhibition, is an Irish annual school students' science competition that has been held in the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland, every January since the competition was founded by Tom Burke and Tony Scott in 1965.
The Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE) is run under the guidance and ownership of a charity by the same name. It is governed by a Board of Directors and was founded in 2003 to protect and promote the YSTE.
The overarching vision of the charity is to be recognised globally for generating excitement in young people about the power of science and its ability to improve our world. This vision is supported by a clear purpose: to spark curiosity through the next generation. www.yste.ie
The competition The purpose of the competition is to encourage interest in science in secondary schools. For the 51st year of the competition in 2016, there were over 2,000 entries, from 396 schools which was the highest number ever, 550 of which were selected for the Exhibition at the RDS.
Students apply to participate in the competition. Their science project entries are evaluated by judges and about one-third of applicants are accepted to participate in the public exhibition. Students are allocated exhibition stands in an exhibition hall where they set up their projects for viewing by the public. Competing projects are judged during the three days of the exhibition, and prizes are awarded.
Projects are awarded in five categories: biology, physics, social and behavioural sciences, health and wellbeing, and technology. Health and wellbeing is the newest category, only being added in 2023 to celebrate the 60th anniversary and to lower admissions to social and behavioural sciences. Three levels of entry are accepted: junior, intermediate, and senior. In each category three main prizes are awarded; other prizes include a display award, highly commended rosettes, and a cancer awareness award. The winners of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition advance to participate in prestigious international events such as the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.
John Monahan was the inaugural winner of the Young Scientist Exhibition in 1965; then a student of Newbridge College, his project was an explanation of the process of digestion in the human stomach. He went on to establish a NASDAQ-listed biotech company in California after attending University College Dublin.
Aer Lingus sponsored the competition for the first 33 years. 2021 marked the 21st year in which the Exhibition was sponsored by BT Ireland. It has produced at least one author, Sarah Flannery, and one billionaire, Patrick Collison. Many of the past winners have gone on to establish international companies in the technology they developed. One of the most notable was Baltimore Technologies.
Tom Burke, who co-founded the exhibition with physicist Tony Scott, died in March 2008. An award at the event (a bursary offered to individual participants) was named in his memory.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first ever virtual Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition was held in January 2021 with over 1,000 students representing more than 200 schools taking part.
On 11 February 2025, BT Ireland announced it would step down as organiser and sponsor of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition after 25 years. In May 2025, Stripe was announced as the new title sponsor of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, 20 years after co-founder Patrick Collison won the competition.
Overall winners by year Year Winner Age School Project title Notes1965John MonahanNewbridge College, County KildareAn apparatus to demonstrate and examine the various chemical reactions that take place in the human body during digestion and to examine the effects of abnormal conditions- Education: Biochemistry at UCD. PhD in biochemistry from McMaster University, Ontario.
- Where is he now? Vice-president, research and development at the cutting edge Synthetic Biologics, California.1966Máire Caitríona Ní Dhomhnaill Ursuline Convent, SligoThe "four colour problem" in topology. An attempt to form a proof or partial proof of this problem and to extend the proof to cover other surfaces- Education: BSc in physics and mathematics at UCC.
- Where is she now? Science teacher at Dublin school1967Walter HayesSt Vincent's CBS, Glasnevin, DublinSalmonellis in Mice: A study of etiology, course and effect of the disease on the host- Education: Languages at TCD.
- Where is he now? Teaching English in Africa.1968George Andrew ReynoldsSt James' CBS, DublinTo determine the extent and nature of mineralisation in the iron-manganese lode at Cloghleagh, Co. Wicklow, by means of electrical resistance, geo-resistivity and natural current surveys - Project: 'Geophysical study of an iron mine' - Education: Earth sciences at TCD; Masters in geophysics Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; earth sciences degree in Spain; MBA degree.
- Where is he now? Management consulting in Ireland.1969Luke DruryWesley College, DublinThe construction and use of a spectro-photometer to investigate complex ion formation in a transition metal- Project: 'Construction and use of a spectro-photometer to investigate complex ion formation in a transitional metal'
- Education: BSc in physics at TCD; PhD in astrophysics from Cambridge.
- Where is he now? Astrophysicist at Max Planck Institute of Nuclear Physics, Germany. 1970 Maria Edgeworth Convent of Mercy, Longford To extract pigments from various flowers and investigate their possible practical use- Education: BSc in physics from TCD; diploma in international studies from Nice.
- Where is she now? Set up Government Equine Diagnostic Laboratory at Coolmore Stud, Co Tipperary; working as a biochemist. 1971 Peter Short Presentation Convent, Clane, County Kildare A survey of Lough Bollard, near Clane, to determine its history and the reason for its disappearance in the 18th century- Where is he now? Set up his own company, Pharma Buy. 1972 Seán Mac Fheorais Coláiste Mhuire, Baile Atha Cliath Grinn- staidéar ar pterostigmata- Education: BSc in biochemistry from Dundee University.
- Where is he now? Unilever Laboratories in Cheshire, England. 1973 Tadhg Begley North Monastery CBS, Cork A painstaking search for minerals and pollutants in water samples collected in jars over a number of years from the sea off Youghal- Education: BSc in chemistry from UCC; PhD in organic chemistry from California Institute of Technology; University of Geneva; and MIT.
- Where is he now? Associate professor of chemistry at Cornell University. 1974 Richard Elliott Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh The use of computer techniques to provide mathematical models of biological situations - Education: Trained as a surgeon in Edinburgh; cardiothoracic surgery; occupational toxicology. - Where is he now? Epidemiologist at HSE medical sciences unit in Liverpool. 1975 Noel Boyle St Finian's College, Mullingar, County Westmeath A study of photoelectric cells and construction of a spectrophotometer- Education: BA and MB from Trinity College Dublin; research at St James's Hospital, Dublin.
- Where is he now? Professor of medicine at UCLA in California. 1976 Mary Kelly-Quinn Our Lady's Secondary School, Castleblayney, County Monaghan To the existence of minerals by means of analyzing rock slides; to carry out a geophysical survey aimed at verifying direction and depth of veins and mineral outcrops- Education: Degree, PhD and post-doctoral research in zoology at UCD and TCD.
- Where is she now? UCD lecturer in Department of Zoology. 1977 Micheal Og O'Briain Colaiste Mhuire, Dublin An integrated study of the scientific conservation of Rogerstown Estuary, County Dublin- Education: BSc in zoology from UCD; co-organised and took part in three Irish Brent Goose Expeditions to Arctic.
- Where is he now? Appointed to Environmental Directorate of the European Community. 1978 Donald McDonnell Crescent College Comp, Dooradoyle, Limerick A study of effect of proven pollution on ecological balance in the Shannon at Limerick McDonnell received a degree in biochemistry from UCG (now NUIG) in 1983. He then left Ireland and moved to Houston where he did a PhD in cell biology under the mentorship of Bert O'Malley at Baylor College of Medicine. His thesis, which involved the molecular cloning of receptors for steroid hormone receptors, brought him into the field of drug discovery. Following his fellowship training he left academics for a while and worked as head of molecular biology at Ligand Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company in San Diego. In 1994 he moved back to academics and is now the Glaxo-Wellcome professor of molecular cancer biology at Duke University 1979 Jervis Good Midleton College, County Cork The concept of Ecopolemiology as Illustrated by a Preliminary Study of the Bionomics of the Earwig- Education: Won the YS after dropping out of school with Leaving Cert; graduated from Trinity with BSc and then PhD from UCC in zoology.
- Where is he now? Freelance environmental consultant.1980Karen RuddockAlexandra College, Milltown, DublinLichens in relation to their environment- Education: BSc in natural sciences from Trinity; HDip in education; Masters in applied linguistics.
- Where is she now? Director of PPLI, implementing key actions in Languages Connect: Ireland's Foreign Languages Strategy in Education.1981Catherine ConlonMuckross Park, DublinA study of physical, biochemical and anatomical aspects of the spider and its web, and its adaptation to its environment- Education: Degree in medicine from UCD; Masters in public health from UCD.
- Where is she now? Public health lecturer.1982Martynn SheehanConvent of Mercy, Moate, County WestmeathLichens may be used for medicine - Education: BSc from UCG. - Where is she now? Validation manager with Elan Corporation, Athlone, Co Westmeath.1983Turan Mirza, William Murphy & Gareth Clarke17/18/17Carrickfergus Grammar School, Carrickfergus, County AntrimMicrocomputer Based RoboticsThe first group to win the Young Scientist Exhibition. They represented Ireland in Copenhagen, Denmark at the European Young Scientists.
- Education: William studied computer science at University of Ulster. Gareth completed education in technology degree from Queen's University, Belfast.
- Where are they now? William is an IT consultant. Gareth teaches computers and technology in Canada.1984Eoin WalshColaiste Choilm CBS, Swords, County DublinSimulation of Drude Electron Theory and Kinetic Theory of Gases - Education: Experimental physics from Trinity; post-graduate research at TCD. - Where is he now? Vice president of Morgan Stanley bank.1985Ronan McNultySt Mary's College, Rathmines, DublinThe Musical Typewriter (A system which prints music as you play)Education: Mathematical and experimental physics at UCD; PhD in particle physics at University of Liverpool.
- Where is he now? Physics lecturer at UCD. 1986 Niamh Mulvany & Breda Maguire 17/17 Rosary College, Raheny, Dublin Focus on the Viola tricolor - an Indepth study on Bull Island Mulvany and Maguire went on to win a top award for Ireland at the Philips European competition for Young Scientists and Inventors in Oslo in May 1986. They were presented to King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden at the Nobel Ball later in 1986. Both went on to graduate from Trinity College Dublin with degrees in natural sciences, specialising in botany.
- Where are they now? Breda is business manager with Smiths Medical, Co Dublin. Niamh is working to complete homeopathy qualification. 1987 Henry Byrne & Emma Donnellan FCJ Secondary School, Bunclody, County Wexford Fibre Optic Liquid Analyser - Education: Henry studied mechanical and manufacturing engineering at Trinity. Emma attained a master's degree in marketing.