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Over 1,000 students from across Ireland and Northern Ireland filled the RDS in Dublin today as President Catherine Connolly and Stripe cofounder and former YSTE winner Patrick Collison officially opened the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.
In her opening address, President Connolly underscored the national importance of the exhibition, saying: “May I offer my very best wishes to all of the students participating in this year’s Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, and may I pay a special tribute to all those teachers and parents who have been such an essential source of encouragement.
When I look around today, I feel a sense of hope for the future–hope sourced in these brilliant young scientists who are full of creativity, curiosity, and ingenuity. I can already see in your projects some of the leadership which we need to achieve a sustainable and cohesive future both on our island and across the world.
May I wish all of you good luck in these awards, which I hope will propel your interest in a science that serves society, all those who dwell on our planet, as well as the Earth itself.”
Returning to the exhibition two decades after winning the top prize in 2005, Patrick Collison reflected on its impact: “The Young Scientist Exhibition changed my life. It was the first time I had the chance to do something I thought was interesting, just for its own sake, and then to have other people take it seriously. I don't think I'd be where I am without it.”
When asked about his advice for the students in the room, he said: “If you're ever worried all the big problems have been solved, no, absolutely not. We don't know why people sleep; we don't know how sleep works; we don’t know what’s going on in a thunderstorm. The good news is nothing's been solved. Everything is still in play. And teenagers can do great things. Gauss, Pascal and Galois made significant contributions to mathematics as teenagers. Louis Braille invented his writing system when he was a teenager. Aaron Swartz helped create RSS when he was 14. Vitalik Buterin wrote the white paper for Ethereum when he was 19. So figure out what you're really interested in, pursue it with real tenacity, and then set your sights high. You can do great work.”
The ceremony also featured the 2025 YSTE winners Ciara, Saoirse, and Laoise Murphy, who joined Stripe’s chief revenue officer Eileen O'Mara on stage. The sisters have since travelled internationally through the YSTE, including to Japan.
The three sisters, who created a medical assistance app designed to support emergency healthcare, encouraged this year's participants to seize every opportunity. They said: “Enjoy each moment, talk to everyone, make as many connections as you can. YSTE is the most special event in the world. The opportunities here are invaluable, and they'll stay with you for life. Don't be nervous about the judges, they're industry leaders, and there's no better feedback you could get on your project."
The ceremony was livestreamed at youtube.com/@StripeYSTE and will be available for replay later today.
Judging begins
The ceremony marked the beginning of three days of judging for 550 projects spanning artificial intelligence, climate science, mental health research, and sustainable technology. A panel of 85 judges, chaired by exhibition cofounder Dr. Tony Scott and Stripe’s Ray McGrath, will assess each project in detail. The judges are leading academics, researchers and industry experts across biological, physical, social, and technological sciences.
Over 200 prizes will be announced at Friday evening’s ceremony, with the overall winner receiving €7,500, a newly designed Stripe YSTE trophy reflecting the exhibition’s new visual identity, and the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists. The ceremony will be livestreamed at youtube.com/@StripeYSTE.
Exhibition opens to the public
Following the official launch, the exhibition is open to the public from tomorrow, Thursday, January 8, until Saturday, January 10. Visitors can explore all 550 student projects from 221 schools and experience new interactive installations with cutting-edge technology including drones, robot dogs, and a quantum computer.
Special acts during the week include Mark the Science Guy, with a new show exploring some of the world’s most extreme environments; The Drop Science Bubble Show, where scientist Finn reveals the physics and wonder of bubbles; a career panel for students hosted by Stripe; and drumming workshops with the Irish Aid Centre team.
Alongside the main competition, the Primary Science Fair runs Thursday to Friday, showcasing 60 projects from primary schools across the country. This non-competitive fair features student investigations into topics ranging from living things to energy and forces, designed to ignite a lifelong love for science, technology, and mathematics in Ireland’s younger pupils.
A limited number of visitor tickets are still available for public days and can be purchased online. For more details on opening hours and ticketing, please visit: stripeyste.com/tickets.
