Mayo student wins coveted prize at 16th BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp
Dana Carney, a third year student at Mount St. Michael Secondary School in Claremorris, was a member of the Best Group winners at the 2025 BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp for the project TactAI.
The project was originally developed as an entry into the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2025, and aims to replace human dependency and incorporate machine learning in specific situations using humanoid AI.
This hardwire sensored robot can significantly reduce the number of injuries and fatalities in place of underwater divers who can work in challenging and dangerous environments.
Members of the winning group also included: Conor O’Neill (fifth year student at the Institute of Education, Dublin), Orla Buttimer (fourth year student at Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Kerry), and Tomas Donohoe (fourth year student at Athlone Community College, Westmeath).
Ashlee Keogh, sixth year student at Tallaght Community School, Dublin, was named the overall winner at the 2025 BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp for her project MagClean, which examines the development of an eco-friendly solution to managing and cleaning oil spills using magnetic nanoparticles with biodegradable materials to prevent harm to the environment.
The BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp has been an extremely successful initiative since it was first introduced by BT Ireland under its custodianship of the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE).
Thirty students from 17 schools in 12 counties across the island of Ireland were selected to participate at this year’s four-day bootcamp in Nova UCD. At the bootcamp, students attended workshops on business development, marketing and commercialisation, and had the opportunity to hear and learn from BTYSTE alumni who have launched successful enterprises. On the final day, the students pitched their project to expert panel of judges.
Judges this year included Shay Walsh, managing director of BT Ireland, Dr. Tony Scott, co-founder of the BTYSTE, Anne-Marie Turley, head of fintech, finance and Cybersecurity at Enterprise Ireland, and Brian O’Donovan, work and technology correspondent at RTÉ.
Following BT Ireland’s recent announcement that it is stepping down as organiser and sponsor of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE), this year’s bootcamp is the last being delivered by the organisation.
Shay Walsh said: “We are very proud to have developed and hosted the BT Business Bootcamp for the past 16 years. It has been a significant part of our efforts to drive innovation in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors. The bootcamp provides BTYSTE finalists with further insight into pursuing a career in STEM, and equips finalists at the exhibition with the skills and insights to encourage them to turn their projects into commercial enterprises.
“We wish all these students the best in their future endeavours. With this being the final Bootcamp delivered by BT Ireland, we are hugely thankful to all those who have been involved, and to the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Board for allowing us to be such an integral part of exhibition for quarter of a century.”
Since the BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp began, several participants have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs.