Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
Our experience at the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year. Our journey started in September when we came up with the idea to use “biochar”—a material made by burning organic matter—to help purify polluted river water. Thankfully, our application was accepted, and we were given the fabulous opportunity to develop our proposal for the exhibition at the RDS in January.
During our experiment, we visited Trinity College Dublin to use some of their specialized equipment. This was a great opportunity to experience what a day in the life of a Trinity scientist could be like. Eventually, the time came to travel to the RDS and present our project alongside hundreds of other passionate young scientists.
The four days we spent there were busy but incredibly enjoyable. Alongside the judging elements of the competition, there were plenty of fun activities, including a Q&A with Stripe CEO Patrick Collison, a disco, and a quiz night. Finally, it came time for the awards ceremony. We were delighted to discover we had been awarded “Highly Commended” for our project. All in all, it was an incredible experience, and we’d highly recommend that other students apply next year.
By Sam Whelan and Liam Somers