The 2001 ESAT Young Scientists of the Year are Peter Taylor, Shane Browne and Michael O'Toole from St Killian's Community School in Bray. The Best Individual prize was awarded to Kyle Parfrey a student at CBC, Sydney Hill, Cork.
The overall winning project, 'Investigating Symmetrical Shapes formed by Polygons', was announced this evening by President Mary McAleese at a ceremony at the RDS. The project was described judges as an "elegant and sophisticated study in formal mathematics".
Two of the three 16 year-old winners, Peter Taylor and Shane Browne, were recipients of the Best Group Prize in last year's competition. They received a cash prize of £1,000 and the specially commissioned ESAT trophy.
Kyle Parfrey, the winner of the individual prize for 'Analysis of Chaotic Chemical Oscillating Reactions' also received a trophy and £500.
Thirteen-year-old Luara Hurley from Mount Mercy College, Cork, was ruuner-up in the Individual Prize section for 'Representation in Dáil Éireann', an examination of the impact of a change to the Single Transferable Vote electoral system.
Runners-up in the Group prize were Orla Lagan (15), Antoinette Maginness (16) and Helen Goodall from Ravenhill Road, Belfast for 'A Study of Environment Factors Influencing Parasite Behaviour'.
The exhibition continues tomorrow with the wining projects on display in the Main Hall.