The largest number of secondary school students to date are vying to compete in the Esat BT Young Scientist Exhibition which runs in the RDS in Dublin from January 11th to 15th.
Some 1,064 entries have been received this year for the 480 available places in the 41st annual science awards. It is the first time the number of entries has exceeded 1,000, say organisers.
Last year more than 35,000 spectators attended over three days.
Eoin O'Donnell, Mark Fennessy and James Nixon, from Blackwater Community School, Lismore, Co Waterford, plan the biggest revolution in household cleaning since the vacuum cleaner with "Cleanobot". This robot worker removes the stress of floor-cleaning by doing the job without the need for any human intervention.
In Sion Hill school, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Caoimhe Madill and Emily Hand investigated the effects of household chemicals on plant life. They wanted to see if allowing chemicals to escape into the environment by putting them down household drains damaged plant life before the seed germinated or damaged an already healthy existing plant.
Students compete in four categories: biological and ecological sciences; social and behavioural sciences; chemical, physical and mathematical sciences and technology.
The exhibition is open to the public from January 13th to 15th. Admission for students and pensioners is €4; children €3; adults €8; family tickets €20 and pre-booked parties of 30 or more people, €3.50.
