BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition secures further 3 year sponsorship from BT
Tuesday 10 May 2011
BT commits more than £1.7 million to science and technology event
Travel & Accommodation Grant to rise by 50% to give financial support to schools
BT has launched the 2012 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and committed to a further three years as the organiser and sponsor. BT will invest over £1.7 million over three years in the event, which has become the largest of its kind in Europe since BT became involved 12 years ago.
BT has also announced that it will increase its Travel & Accommodation grant by 50 percent to more than £65,000. The grant will be a boost to schools across Northern Ireland that require extra financial support to travel and stay in Dublin for the annual fair and competition in January. To date, BT has provided over £220,000 in grants to schools across the island of Ireland since the scheme’s inception.
The renewed sponsorship demonstrates BT’s commitment to economic and social development, including investment in skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and communications and IT infrastructure. The exhibition encourages schools to embrace the critical skills of science, technology, engineering and maths, and provides a platform for innovative ideas to be recognised and showcased. Students from the exhibition have gone on to secure awards at international events such as the UK Young Scientist, the European Young Scientist and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the US. The exhibition has also been the launch-pad for students who have turned their innovative ideas into commercial opportunities and enterprises.
Graham Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, BT said
We believe the exhibition ticks all the right boxes for the economy, for students and BT – it helps stimulate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) skills, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and gives a much-needed lift to spirits.
Innovation and skills are critical to the success of economies and major brands like BT, and through the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, we can seek to encourage bright young minds to invent new products and services, start enterprises, generate exports and ultimately create jobs.
Miss Maureen Wells, Head of Science at Lagan College commented
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, is a great opportunity for students to think outside the box, display their originality and put their research skills to great practical effect.
It provides the motivation and stimulus to encourage today’s students to strive to be at the forefront of research and innovation in tomorrow’s world and continuing to encourage our young people to be interested in science and technology is vitally important to the economy.
At the announcement today, BT also called on Northern Ireland students to begin to prepare their projects for the 2012 exhibition. The closing for entry is 3rd October 2011, and the company is hoping to break a new record for entry numbers in 2012.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition will take place in the RDS, Dublin from January 11th – 15th 2012. For more information on the exhibition, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com or call 0800 917 1297
Deirbhile Murphy from Rathmore Grammar School, Graham Sutherland, BT Chief
Executive Officer and Nicola Moloney from Lagan College at the launch of the 2012
BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
Michael McManus from Lagan College, Graham Sutherland, BT Chief
Executive Officer and Orla Lavery from Rathmore Grammar School at the launch
of the 2012 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
For media enquiries, please contact
Lyn Sheridan or Louise Carson, Aiken PR, 028 90 663 000 or
Priscilla O’Regan, Head of Communications, BT Northern Ireland, 01 432 5162 or 086 633 5398
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2010, BT Group’s revenue was £20,911 million.
BT plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
