Kildare's John Monahan, First-Ever Winner, Inspires New Generation At BT Young Scientist Exhibition

John Monahan (78), from Straffan, Kildare, was the first ever winner of the competition.

Even into it's 60th year, the BT Young Scientist Exhibition is still adapting and innovating to the needs of students.

That's according to the organisers of the showcase as the President Michael D Higgins prepares to open this year's event at the RDS later.

2024 sees the introduction of the Health and Wellbeing category with 550 projects set to be on display during the course of the week.

John Monahan (78), from Straffan, Kildare, was the first ever winner of the competition.

He'll be in attendance today, reminding students that winning over 60 years ago gave him confidence to pursue a career in science.

Eight schools from across Kildare have secured spots.

Here is a glimpse of the projects that earned these schools a coveted spot in the exhibition:

1. Athy Community College

   • Project: Ref’s are humans too!
   • Category: Social & Behavioural Sciences
   • Participant: Individual

2. Celbridge Community School

   • Project: Developing a Generative Adversarial Network to explore Cost of Living hotspots in Ireland.
   • Category: Technology
   • Participant: Individual

3. Coláiste Naomh Mhuire

   • Project: Sugar Reduction
   • Category: Health & Wellbeing
   • Participant: Group

4. Coláiste Naomh Mhuire

   • Project: Coachwise
   • Category: Technology
   • Participant: Group

5. Coláiste Naomh Mhuire

   • Project: A Short Mindfulness-Based Colouring Intervention to Reduce Test Anxiety in Secondary Students
   • Category: Health & Wellbeing
   • Participant: Individual

6. Maynooth Post Primary School

   • Project: An investigation into the effect of toothpaste containing hydrogen peroxide on tooth health.
   • Category: Biological & Ecological
   • Participant: Individual

7. Newbridge College

   • Project: An investigation into bias against brands in different age groups when buying clothing and whether or not ethical consumerism is a problem with young people
   • Category: Social & Behavioural Sciences
   • Participant: Individual

8. Newbridge College

   • Project: Does the Rising Cost of Living Affect our Ability to Live Sustainably? – A Case Study of a Suburban Town in Co. Kildare
   • Category: Social & Behavioural Sciences
   • Participant: Group

9. Newbridge College

   • Project: An investigation into the different factors influencing a person’s ability to follow written instruction.
   • Category: Social & Behavioural Sciences
   • Participant: Group

10. Newbridge College

    • Project: Sound of Tensegrity
    • Category: Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences
    • Participant: Individual

11. Patrician Secondary School

    • Project: A Study On The Commercialization Of Small Wind Turbines For Home Energy Production
    • Category: Technology
    • Participant: Individual

12. Salesian College

    • Project: Nathan 14 – An innovative smart device for the visually impaired
    • Category: Technology
    • Participant: Individual

13. St Pauls Secondary School

    • Project: Phthalates Taking Over Babies
    • Category: Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences
    • Participant: Group

14. St Pauls Secondary School

    • Project: Public Perception and Social Acceptance of Wind Turbines
    • Category: Social & Behavioural Sciences
    • Participant: Group