County Down schools can now benefit from BT’s commitment to support schools across the island of Ireland to enter the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition with a £62,500 accommodation grant. Last year four schools from Co. Down availed of the bursary but BT wants to encourage more schools to take advantage of the scheme.
In a further boost for Northern Ireland schools, the Department of Education NI has committed an additional 50% funding for all NI schools who participate in the exhibition.
Education Minister John O’Dowd, MLA said: “I am delighted to increase my Department’s contribution to this prestigious event this year. Events of this nature play an important role in encouraging our young people to study STEM subjects and pursue a STEM career thereby growing an innovative and prosperous economy. This increased funding will assist schools with the costs associated with participating in the finals in Dublin in January 2015. I would strongly urge all schools to consider entering this exciting competition and wish everyone success with their projects.”
Colm O’ Neill, CEO, BT Northern Ireland, added:“We understand that school budgets are under pressure and I would like to thank the Minister and his Department for the generous top up funding which will be added to the significant funding that BT already commits to schools under the grant scheme.
“We hope that it will encourage even more students from County Antrim to take part in the upcoming BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and give them that added incentive to get involved. Every year we are blown away by the wealth of highly skilled and talented NI students that participate in the exhibition and I hope to see as many of them as possible enter a project for our 2015 event.”
All Northern Ireland schools who participate in the exhibition are now eligible to apply for a maximum grant of £2,050 per school, increased from £1,350 per school in 2014.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is organised by BT, one of the world’s leading communications and IT services companies. The exhibition will take place in the RDS, Dublin from 7th – 10th January 2015 and the closing date for entries is 1st October 2014.
For more information on the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, visit:
