BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
News and updates
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is much more than a competition; it is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for the students who take part. The Exhibition itself is the final stage in the competition, which is open to all second level students from Ireland, both north and south.
For more information: Our Story – BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
2023/2024
“Sea the Smell is Gone” with Bio-Liser: A Seaweed-Derived Pyrogenic Biochar for Enhanced Soil Stability, Reduced Nutrient Loss, Esmision Control and Odor Mitigation.
2023/2024 was a successful year for our BTYSE students Caragh Killeen, Cian McInerney, Ailish Marrinan and Conor Crotty achieving Third Place in the Senior Category and winning the WILLIAMS LEA Ireland special award in the Biological and Ecological category.
A huge congratulations to Caragh,Cian, Ailish and Conor supported by their teacher Ms. Laura Egan who attracted considerable national media interest at the exhibition this year with their project and presentation exploring the potential of seaweed to reduce the pungent odour of slurry, a common agricultural waste product. Their innovative solution involves transforming locally-sourced seaweed into biochar, a material that effectively neutralizes odours and enhances nutrient release, promoting healthier soil and grass.
Norma Foley, Minister for Education, pictured with Caragh, Cian and Conor, Miss Egan and Miss Hehir from Kilkee Community College who won a special award and came third in the Senior Category.
Following on from the success of the 23/24 BTYSE we were delighted to find out that two of our students, both Caragh and Cian had been offered a place on the BT Young Scientist Business Booktcamp in University College Dublin (UCD) taking place in March. Caragh and Cian participated in a 4-day programme where they were set business challenges, addressed guest speakers and presented to a panel of expert judges. Caragh was a member of the winning team with their Business Project titled 'Eco ReRoute' - A project that examined the bus routes at a local school to see whether they were operating in the most effecient way.
2022/2023
‘Kelpoleum: Sugar kelp biofuel as an alternative to petroleum fuel’
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2022/2023 was a great year for our students in the BTYSE. The students project titled 'Kelpoleum: Sugar kelp biofuel as an alternative to petroleum fuel' which featured on the Late Late show came highly commended and was awarded the Jack Restan displays award in the biological and ecological category.
Our 22/23 BTYSE success was a result of the groups production of biofuel from seaweed, which our students hope will be used as a fossil fuel replacement, while every component from their hydrothermal liquefaction process serves a useful purpose.
Caragh Killeen, Alish Marrinan and Cian McInerney are working with sugar kelp, a species washed up on shores, which grows quickly. They named their fuel “kelpoleum”.
“It is waste on the beach. It smells and is an eyesore. We make it useful,” Caragh explained. The kelp is pre-treated with caustic soda and subjected to high pressure and heat. Initial tests conducted with the University of Limerick indicated the intensity was insufficient. So they bought a €105 autoclave on Amazon and acquired an air fryer.
This yielded a biofuel on the top, an aqueous layer in the middle and solid residue, Ailish said. Further investigation will confirm the biofuel’s suitability for use in a car. It will have to be diluted with 5 per cent diesel as it so acidic, but the combination generates a lot less carbon emissions.
The solid residue can be used as a low-emission peat for burning, while the aqueous layer is ideal for use in anaerobic digesters, Cian said. The trio have no doubt about Kelpoleum’s potential.
Irish Times publication: Young Scientist exhibition: More eco-friendly wind turbine and seaweed biofuel among projects as focus turns to energy – The Irish Times
RTE publication: Less smelly slurry among hundreds of projects at BTYSTE (rte.ie)
2021/2022
‘Feasibility Study’ is the next step for enterprising Loop Head, youths.