Teachers

The eXhIBITIon

Teachers

Teachers

The students who attend the BT Young scientist & Technology exhibition are the focal point of the whole event. The contribution made by the teachers cannot be underestimated. They represent a sounding board for ideas, a source of inspiration and help and an encouraging voice when the going gets tough.

The teachers themselves have a clear idea of how the exhibition benefits the students who take part, and of the wider impact it has on society. It supports education generally and also inspires students to get involved in science and technology in higher education. “It definitely encourages an interest in science,” says Sean Foley of Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, in Cork. Participation keeps the entire school involved, he says, as the aspiring Young Scientists think up project ideas during the year and discuss them with the science teachers. The fun and friendships are a powerful motivation for taking part, but there are long-lasting gains too, he says.

“So many former students have told me that when doing job interviews they have invariably been asked about their Young Scientist projects. Having Young Scientist involvement on a CV is a definite advantage. The increased confidence and ability to communicate effectively are huge personal gains for participating students.” The event helps to show students that science is all around us and not just in the classroom, says Ann Blanking of St Marys College, Derry. “It promotes science and technology in a way that shows connections between them and real life.”

It is also an important exhibition for the whole island. It is “embedded into the psyche of Irish Society” she believes. “I want as many of my pupils as possible to experience the phenomenon that is the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in order to stimulate their love of science and see the possibilities.” Those that take part become “brilliant ambassadors both for science and technology and the exhibition itself.”

Catherine Tattersall who heads up science at Sutton Park School has seen a number of national science competitions, but none compare with the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition which she ranks as “a world leader”. “It places a focus directly on the student and gives them a platform for exhibiting their creative scientific research and design which could see them becoming the inventors of tomorrow,” she says.

The event itself seems a source of inspiration for the students and this lasts for years afterwards, says Tattersall. “What we see in our school is that the students who participate develop huge confidence, a sense of pride in their work and a feeling of being valued members of their community. They come away with a stronger vision of where their futures lie.” Yet they also admit to the event being “the best time of their lives so far,” she adds. Jim Cooke, formerly of CBS Synge Street, has for many years been a stalwart supporter of the exhibition, taking many successful students to the event and bringing back numerous awards. He argues it has had a real impact on student engagement with the sciences and research. “It is one of the most visionary and effective developments ever in Irish education,” he believes. “It provides secondlevel students with the opportunity to integrate ideas from various science subjects, mathematics and other disciplines in an exciting and challenging event that encourages creativity, innovation and original research.” Taking part is a challenge for these young people, yet they come away saying it “was one of the best experiences that they ever had,” Cooke says. “All of them would say that the opportunity to engage in original scientific research provided by the exhibition has affected their lives in a very positive way.”

The exhibition helps students to develop skills for life, says Mary Mullaghy, the current chair of the Irish Science Teachers’ Association. “It allows students to participate in hands-on science that is relevant to their lives, and research has shown that student participation in science-related extracurricular activities leads to better student performance, by building confidence and creating enjoyment of learning,” she says. Taking part helps communication skills, fosters creativity and team working, she says. It allows the student to take ownership of their own learning. “It has helped make science cool and created a more informed Irish society who can appreciate the applications of scientific discovery,” she adds, saying the Association was proud to be a strategic partner in the event.