FAQs | Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

Frequently asked questions

Student FAQ

What are the rules of entry?

The rules are designed to ensure that the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is conducted as fairly and as efficiently as possible and are subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of YSTE. Infringement of any of the rules may lead to exclusion, at any time, of individuals or schools from present and/or future participation in the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

Refer to the Handbook to view our 2026 rules of entry.

What are the project display and material guidelines?

Required project materials include:

Project book
Project diary
Display board
3-minute video

To view the project display and material guidelines and helpful tips for each material, refer to the Handbook.

What are some one-page proposal examples?

Refer to the Handbook for one-page proposal examples in each category.

What are the research guidelines?

Refer to the Handbook to find our research guidelines.

How many can work together in a group?

Groups will consist of either two or three members at maximum, where possible in the same age group (Junior, Intermediate or Senior), who must be from the same school.

How will projects be judged?

Stage one (to 26th of September) – Please enter via www.stripeyste.com. Screening of all entries will take place as soon after the closing date as possible.
Stage two (25th of October) – For those that qualify, your teacher will be sent notification and you’ll begin working on your preparation for the exhibit (project diary, report book, video, poster).
Stage three (January) – Judging of top 550 projects will take place in person in the RDS from the 7th to 10th January 2026.

Is there a Project entry fee?

Yes. Entry to the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2026 is €20/£18 per student. Results of the project selection process will not be released until the entry fee has been paid.

Is there financial support available to fund the work?

The Accommodation Grant Scheme (the ‘Grant Scheme’) is available to schools that are over 70 Km from the RDS, grants of €150/£135 payable to a school in respect of each individual pupil project entry and grants of €300/£270 payable to a school in respect of each group project entry, subject always to a maximum grant payment per school of €1,500/£1,350. See the Handbook for more details.

My project could be entered under two categories, which do I select?

At the entry stage select the one you and your teacher deem the most suitable for your project based on the subcategories of the projects and if the judges feel it would be represented in a different category more accurately it may be moved during screening.

Does the project have to be worked on during school hours?

No, the project can be worked on at times convenient for you but remember to include all the work in your project diary.

Will patent protection apply?

Yes and guidance on this for qualified projects will be sent out when you are notified that you have qualified. We hope to once again work with the Patents office so students can get free advice on patenting their projects.

Will internet access be available for my project should I qualify to exhibit in January?

Wi-Fi will be available throughout the exhibition hall.

My group qualified with two students; can I add a third?

Students cannot be added to a group that has already qualified.

One student from my group cannot continue, what do I need to do?

When a student leaves a group, they must sign over the IP rights for the project to the remaining students. If the student leaving the group means that only one student is left then permission is needed from the head judge to allow the project that qualified in group to move to individual. Please contact YSTE@yste.ie for more information.

I need to withdraw a project, what do I have to do?

When a student confirms that they will exhibit a project, one of the available stand spaces will be allocated against that project. It is the teacher’s responsibility to check with students before the Christmas holidays to confirm that they are still planning to participate. If a project has to be withdrawn, please let us know immediately in writing to YSTE@yste.ie before 5th December 2025. Failure to do so may lead to the disqualification of participation of the project in future years.

What prizes are available?

Everyone is aware of the top four awards, but there are loads of others that you could go home with, including 90 awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category/age group!

Teacher FAQ

How do I register?

Click “Teacher registration” in the navigation
Fill in the teacher registration form
Confirm your email via activation link
Log in and request a verification code if needed
Use the Teacher Area dashboard to monitor and manage your school’s entries

Once registered, as a teacher you can oversee submissions, manage student details, and track project statuses via your dedicated dashboard.

What is required of me to support a student?

Idea Development
- Help students brainstorm, develop questions, plan methodology
Project Submission
- Register, assess, and submit projects by 29 Sep 2025 deadline
Qualification Prep
- Confirm student participation; manage any withdrawals before 5 Dec 2024
Event Logistics
- Ensure setup, oversee attendance, manage teacher replacements
Onsite Supervision
- Support students during exhibition, supervise breaks
Student Welfare
- Facilitate SNA passes; manage evening activities and collection

I have a number of projects qualified but I am the teacher for all of them. Can I bring an additional teacher with me to the exhibition?

A request will need to be made to YSTE@yste.ie and a decision will be made based on the overall number of teachers supporting projects at the exhibition.

How does GDPR affect the exhibition? Most students involved are under the age of 18?

We have existing GDPR guidelines in place which will be reviewed and enhanced, if necessary, over the coming months. Keep an eye on exhibition rules for updates.

What child protection provisions will be in place for Stripe YSTE 2026?

We will be reviewing all child protection measures that are currently in place for YSTE and will enhance those if required.

I cannot attend all four days of the exhibition; can I send a replacement teacher?

If you are sending a replacement teacher to cover all or any of your days please email the teacher’s name and stand number they will be covering to YSTE@yste.ie by 21st December, if they are only covering one day they will be given a pass but not the teacher pack.

Do I have to be near the students' stands at all times?

You can be at or near your students' stands at all times except during their judging interviews, no videoing or photography of these interviews are allowed. There is a dedicated teacher space available on the upper balcony.

My student’s project is on a reserve list. What should we do?

Your student should continue to work on their project and will be contacted every two weeks to confirm that they are happy to remain on the reserve list or potentially offered a place. If no space has become available by 20th December, we will release them from the list. A number of projects are moved from the reserve list to the qualified list each year. Should your student’s project not make it off the reserve list please encourage them to not be disheartened and try again next year.