Flying acrobats, the 1812 Overture and an 80-stone polar bear of sorts combined to provide a lively launch for the 2008 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which is now under way in Dublin.
There was also room for Ministers from two jurisdictions, with Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin hosting the North's Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, at the RDS, the first time a Minister from the North has attended the event.
Now in its 44th year, the Young Scientist competition has brought together more than 1,100 students and 500 research projects in the sciences, maths, technology and social sciences. These 500, involving students from 31 counties, were shortlisted from almost 1,500 projects submitted this year, the competition's largest entry yet.
The students have prepared either group or individual projects and are vying for a chance to become Young Scientist of the Year, an accomplishment that comes with a Waterford Crystal trophy and a cheque for €5,000.
Mr Martin highlighted the competition's "great sense of adventure, excitement and fun" in his opening remarks and described it as an "astonishing event". It showed that "more and more students were engaging with science".
The increasing student interest was an indication that efforts to boost student involvement in science were "beginning to pay off", the Minister told The Irish Times after the launch ceremony.
"The enthusiasm of the young people is impressive," Mr Martin said. "For me, this is a very important event and reflects to a certain extent how Ireland is turning more and more to science."
This was the first visit by a Minister from the North to the Young Scientist, Ms Ruane acknowledged. "I think it is brilliant - it makes science interesting and brings it into ordinary life," she said.
Northern schools have a long involvement in this all-Ireland event and have won the Young Scientist award. This year 30 schools from the North submitted projects, with 18 selected to compete in 2008, she said.
"We are very interested in expanding this in the North. I like the all-Ireland aspect," she added.
Formal judging began yesterday and continues until tomorrow. The top four prizes, including best and runner-up group and individual projects, will be announced by Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin tomorrow evening.