Were you clever enough to enter the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition? If you haven’t been, it would do your heart good to see the talent, optimism and innovative thinking that abounds in Dublin’s RDS every January.

For over a decade now, Ballywire has collaborated with one of the world’s biggest tech companies to create multimedia coverage of Europe’s biggest science fair over the week of the event.

We set up a real life newsroom at the venue and the energy there is something that is incredible to witness.

This year’s winner of the 54th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition was Simon Meehan, aged 15, a Transition Year student from Colaiste Choilm in Cork.

Simon took home the top prize for his project entitled ‘Investigation into the Antimicrobial effects of both aerial and root parts of selected plants against Staphylococcus’ aureus. (Sorry?!) We didn’t know what it meant either but thankfully here’s Simon to explain.

The coveted prize was presented to the winner by Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh.

Simon presented his project in the Biological and Ecological section of the Intermediate category and his award includes the largest prize fund yet of €7,500, the BTYSTE perpetual trophy and an exclusive trip to Bletchley Park in the UK, the famous World War II coding centre.

In addition, and uniquely this year, the winner will have the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, taking place in the RDS, Dublin in September 2018.

Here’s Simon’s reaction to the win, and here’s to 2019!