Seven local schools competing in BT Young Scientist this week

Seven local schools are represented as the 2017 BT Young Scientist Exhibition gets underway today in Dublin.

St Leos College is the only school flying the flag for Carlow this year with one project while theres 14 on display from six Kilkenny schools including, Loreto, St Kieran’s, Presentation and Coláiste Pobal Osrai in the city as well as Castlecomer community school and Coláiste Eamonn Rís in Callan.

550 projects have made it through to the finals

The winners go on to represent Ireland at European level.

This year the majority of competitors are young women and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh, is hopeful the trend will lead to greater gender balance across the STEM industry.