RULES

Rules and Conditions of Entry

These Rules and Conditions apply to the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2027 (“the Exhibition”). While correct at the time of publication (August 2026), the most up-to-date version will always be available at yste.ie/rules and via www.stripeyste.com.

These rules are designed to ensure the Exhibition is conducted fairly, safely and efficiently. YSTE reserves the right to amend these Rules and Conditions at any time. Failure to comply with these Rules and Conditions may result in disqualification from the current Exhibition and/or exclusion from future participation.

General rules

1.1 Eligibility and Entry

1.1.1 All decisions made by YSTE are final.

1.1.2 A non-refundable entry fee of €20 / £18 per student must be paid online. Projects will only be considered for judging once payment has been received in full.

1.1.3 Entries must be submitted online. Postal entries will not be accepted.

1.1.4 The closing date for entries, including the teacher assessment, is 5:00pm Irish Standard Time (IST) on Monday, 28 September 2026. Late entries will not be accepted. (Note: Students 5:00pm IST on Friday 25 September 2026)

1.1.5 Students aged 12–19 years on 31 October 2026 and resident in Ireland are eligible to enter.

1.1.6 Previous winners of the title Young Scientist(s) & Technologist(s) of the Year are not eligible to re-enter the competition.

1.1.7 Projects previously entered in other competitions may be submitted, provided this is declared on the entry form and there are no restrictions on re-entry.

1.1.8 Submission of an entry does not guarantee acceptance. Projects will be screened by a panel of judges whose decisions are final. Successful projects must participate in the Exhibition from 6–9 January 2027 and comply with all Exhibition Rules.

1.1.9 Students educated at home in the Republic of Ireland may enter, provided they are registered with the National Education Welfare Board and supply proof of registration. Students in Northern Ireland should contact YSTE for guidance.

1.1.10 Projects may be entered in one of the following age groups:

Junior
Intermediate
Senior

The age group is determined by the student’s year of study in January 2027.

1.1.11 Students attending primary schools or third-level institutions are not eligible to enter.

1.2 Project Categories

1.2.1 Projects must be entered in one of the following categories:

Biological & Ecological Sciences
Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences
Health & Wellbeing Sciences
Social & Behavioural Sciences
Technology

1.2.2 Judges reserve the right to place a project in the category they consider most appropriate.

1.3 Plagiarism and Artificial Intelligence

1.3.1 All work submitted must be substantially the student’s own work.

1.3.2 Plagiarism is strictly prohibited, and this includes the use of another person’s text, images, ideas, data, software, graphs or other material without appropriate acknowledgement.

1.3.3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used as support tools only and must not replace the student’s own thinking, research, experimentation, analysis or conclusions.

1.3.4 Any use of AI tools must be clearly disclosed and acknowledged.

1.3.5 Students must confirm that their project is substantially their own work and appropriately reference any assistance received.

1.3.6 YSTE reserves the right to exclude any project where plagiarism or inappropriate use of AI is suspected.

1.4 Individual and Group Projects

1.4.1 Students may enter only one project, either individually or as part of a group.

1.4.2 Individual projects cannot be converted into group projects after submission.

1.4.3 Group projects:

Must consist of two or three students.
Must be from the same school.
Should, where possible, be from the same age group.
Where students are from different age groups, the project must be entered in the school year of the oldest student.

1.4.4 Qualified group projects cannot subsequently be converted into individual projects.

1.4.5 Each group must appoint a group leader who will act as the spokesperson and coordinate the project.

1.4.6 All group members must contribute meaningfully to the project and be familiar with all aspects of the work presented.

1.4.7 Requests to change group membership after qualification must be submitted by email to YSTE before 1 December 2026. Approval is at YSTE’s sole discretion and group size cannot exceed three students.

1.5 Safety and Research Requirements

1.5.1 Human Participants and Personal Data

Projects involving human participants or the collection of personal, health-related, or identifiable information must comply with all applicable ethical, safeguarding, and data protection requirements, including informed consent, parental permission where required, GDPR, and the Data Protection Act 2018. Guidance is available from the National Research Ethics Committees (NREC): Research Ethics Resources.

Prior approval from the school’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) is required before any recruitment, interaction, testing, or data collection begins. All data collection tools (including surveys, tests, apps, and prototypes) must be declared on the Project Details Form. Students must not diagnose conditions, administer treatments, perform medical procedures, or publish diagnostic tools.

1.5.2 Animal Studies and Biological Hazards

Projects involving live animals must comply with all applicable legislation and regulations. Guidance is available from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA):

Students undertaking projects involving live animals or potentially dangerous, pathogenic, toxigenic, or allergenic organisms (including animals, insects, plants, or microorganisms) must consult a suitably qualified expert on relevant health and safety considerations. Such organisms must be declared on the Project Details Form, and details of the expert advice provided to YSTE on request.

1.5.3 Chemicals

Projects involving the use of chemicals must declare on the Project Details Form all chemicals intended for use as part of the Exhibition display.

1.5.4 Project Assessment

Projects will be judged on their scientific merit, the appropriate use of equipment and methods, and the exhibitor’s understanding of the work undertaken, rather than on the sophistication or cost of the equipment itself.

1.5.5 External Assistance and Facilities

Most project work should be undertaken by the student(s) in school, at home or in the field under the supervision of their teacher and, where appropriate, parents, guardians or other responsible adults.

Students may seek advice or information from external sources, including universities, research institutions, government agencies and industry experts. Any assistance received from external organisations, laboratories or specialists must be clearly acknowledged. Experimental or research work carried out in an external laboratory or facility must be clearly identified in the project report book and presentation and be supported by a letter from the facility outlining the assistance provided and the work undertaken by or on behalf of the student(s).

YSTE reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to exclude any project that does not comply with these requirements.

Qualified Projects

2.1 If a qualified project must be withdrawn, YSTE must be notified immediately by email. Schools failing to provide at least four weeks’ written notice may be charged €100.

2.2 Students retain ownership of their projects; however, YSTE may display or publish project materials. Students with commercially valuable projects should consider seeking patent protection.

2.3 Projects previously exhibited at YSTE must demonstrate significant further development and clearly identify any previously presented work.

2.4 Judges may withhold awards where projects do not reach the required standard.

2.5 Projects that breach these Rules and Conditions may be disqualified or have awards withheld at any stage.

2.6 All judging decisions are final. Sponsors are not involved in judging decisions.

Exhibition Display Rules

3.1 Qualified students must attend the Exhibition in person from 6–9 January 2027, unless otherwise advised by YSTE.

3.2 Exhibits must fit within the allocated exhibition stand dimensions:

Back panel: 1,189 mm × 841 mm
Worktop: 1,200 mm × 600 mm

Projects exceeding these dimensions may be disqualified.

3.3 Students are responsible for transporting, setting up and dismantling their own exhibits.

3.4 Projects must be assembled during the allocated set-up period.

3.5 YSTE and Stripe accept no responsibility for loss, theft or damage to exhibits or personal belongings.

3.6 Exhibits must be safe. The following are not permitted:

Dangerous equipment
Open flames
Toxic, flammable, explosive or irritant chemicals
Pathogenic, toxigenic or allergenic organisms
Live mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians

3.7 Brand names and sponsor names are strictly prohibited from appearing in project titles or exhibit displays. References to brands or sponsors are permitted only within the project report book or project diary.

3.8 Students must attend all judging sessions and remain available at their stand throughout the Exhibition.

3.9 Students may not leave the Exhibition before 5:00pm on any Exhibition day without prior approval from organisers.

3.10 Travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of exhibitors except where covered under the Travel Bursary Scheme.

3.11 All equipment, charts and project report books must be clearly labelled. Students should bring two copies of their project report book.

3.12 Wireless internet access will be provided.

3.13 Students must submit a project summary video of up to three minutes. The video may be used for judging and public exhibition purposes.

Travel Bursary Scheme

The Travel Bursary Scheme provides financial assistance to schools with projects that qualify for the Exhibition.

4.1 Travel Bursary Rates

Schools travelling less than 70km to the RDS

Individual Project: €50
Group Project: €100
Maximum per School: €500
Maximum per DEIS School: €625

Schools travelling more than 70km to the RDS

Individual Project: €188 / £169
Group Project: €375 / £338
Maximum per School: €1,875 / £1,688

DEIS Schools travelling more than 70km to the RDS

Individual Project: €225
Group Project: €450
Maximum per School: €2,250

4.2 Applications must be submitted by the teacher through the online registration system when the project is entered.

4.2.1 Applications must be received by 28 September 2026.

4.2.2 Late applications may only be considered at the sole discretion of YSTE.

4.3 The Travel Bursary Scheme applies only to Stripe YSTE 2027.

4.3.1 Eligibility is conditional on the project qualifying for the Exhibition.

4.4. Travel bursary funds must be used solely to support travel and/or accommodation costs for participating students.

4.5. YSTE will endeavour to pay approved bursaries by 19 January 2027.

4.6 The scheme is subject to a maximum available fund of €150,000.

4.6.1 If claims exceed available funding, bursaries may be apportioned on a pro-rata basis.

4.7. Where a project receiving a bursary does not participate in the Exhibition:

Any bursary already paid must be repaid within 30 days of request.
Any unpaid bursary will be forfeited.

4.8. All decisions relating to the Travel Bursary Scheme are final.

Business Bootcamp

5.1 Students wishing to be considered for the Young Scientist Business Bootcamp must opt in on the project details form.

5.2 Projects that do not opt in will not be considered for the programme.

Prize Money

6.1 Prize money will be paid by bank transfer to the winning individual or team leader.

6.2 Winners will be asked to provide bank account details within seven days of the Exhibition ending.

6.3 YSTE will endeavour to issue payments by 30 March 2027.

6.4 Bank details will be deleted once payment has been made.

Privacy, Photography and Filming

7.1 Personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws and the Privacy Notice available at www.stripeyste.com/privacy-policy (where Stripe is the data controller) and www.yste.ie/privacy-policy (where YSTE is the data controller)

7.2 Official photography and filming will take place during the Exhibition. RTÉ, an official media partner, may also film and interview participants for television, online, social media and promotional purposes.

7.3 Successful exhibitors must complete media release forms. Participants under 18 years of age require parental or guardian consent.

Intellectual Property Rights

8.1 Projects containing functional or technical innovations may qualify for patent protection.

8.2 To qualify for patent protection, an invention must:

Be new;
Be capable of industrial application; and
Involve an inventive step.

8.3 All intellectual property rights, whether existing before or created during participation in the Exhibition, remain the property of their respective owner.

Other International Science Fairs

9.1 Representation at Other Science Fairs: Selected prize winners may be invited to represent YSTE at national and international science fairs.

9.2 Eligibility:

Only prize winners selected by the judging panel may be considered.
Both individual and group projects are eligible.

9.3 Expenses:

YSTE will advise participants of any expenses that will be covered.
Covered expenses may include travel, accommodation, meals and other necessary costs, subject to available funding.

9.4 Where appropriate, a YSTE representative may accompany participating students.

9.5 Participants selected to represent YSTE must:

Attend required events and activities;
Present their project where required;
Participate fully in programme activities; and
Represent YSTE professionally and respectfully.

9.6 Participants must comply with:

The rules of the host competition, programme or event; and
Any instructions issued by YSTE.

9.7 YSTE reserves the right to make final decisions regarding:

Participant selection;
Travel arrangements;
Expenses covered;
Accompanying representatives; and
Programme arrangements.

9.8 Participation in Stripe YSTE constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

Top 4 Programme

10.1 The Top 4 Programme is a recognition and development programme for the top four projects at the Exhibition.

10.2 Participation is by invitation only and at the sole discretion of YSTE and Stripe.

10.3 Participants will be invited to take part in a programme of activities organised or facilitated by YSTE, Stripe, or their respective partners, which may include mentoring, industry visits, media training, presentation coaching, networking opportunities, workshops, training sessions, media engagements, school visits, and other development supports and events. By participating in the Top 4 Programme, attendance at certain activities may be required.

10.4 Participants are expected to act as ambassadors for the Exhibition and represent YSTE and Stripe professionally at all times.

10.5 YSTE and Stripe reserve the right to amend, suspend or discontinue the programme at any time.

10.6 Participation in the programme is voluntary. Participants who choose not to take part will not receive a cash payment or any alternative award in lieu of their place in the programme

Overall Winner(s) – Young Scientist(s) & Technologist(s) of the Year

11.1 The overall winner(s) may not represent another country or organisation using the winning project until the following year’s winners have been announced.

11.2 The title Young Scientist(s) & Technologist(s) of the Year may not be used without the prior written consent of YSTE.

11.3 The Overall Young Scientist(s) & Technologist(s) of the Year project will be the only project eligible for entry by Ireland’s National Organiser to the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).

European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS)

12.1 The host country will cover the travel and accommodation costs of participating students.

12.2 The host country will also cover travel and accommodation costs for one official adult escort. For Ireland, this will be the National Organiser appointed by YSTE.

12.3 Any additional persons wishing to attend must do so at their own expense and must get permission from the National Organiser before travelling.

General Provisions

13.1 Force Majeure

13.1.1 YSTE and Stripe reserve the right to postpone, cancel, suspend, modify, relocate or otherwise alter the Exhibition, any associated programme, event, competition, judging process or award due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

13.1.2 Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, adverse weather conditions, a public health emergency, venue unavailability, transport disruption, industrial action, power outage, technical failure, a security incident, government restrictions, an act of God or any other event that may affect the safe, fair or practical operation of the Exhibition.

13.1.3 To the fullest extent permitted by law, YSTE and Stripe shall not be liable for any loss, expense, cost, damage or inconvenience incurred by participants, schools, parents, guardians or any third party arising from any postponement, cancellation, suspension, modification or relocation of the Exhibition or any associated activity.

13.2 Interpretation of Rules

13.2.1 YSTE reserves the right to interpret and apply these Rules and Conditions.

13.2.2 In the event of any dispute regarding eligibility, entry requirements, project classification, compliance with these Rules and Conditions or any other matter relating to the Exhibition, the decision of YSTE shall be final.

13.3 Amendments

13.3.1 YSTE and Stripe reserve the right to amend, update or clarify these Rules and Conditions at any time.

13.3.2 The most current version of the Rules and Conditions will be available on www.yste.ie/rules and via www.stripeyste.com and it is the responsibility of participants to ensure they are familiar with the latest version.