Speech by President Catherine Connolly at Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2026
RDS, 7 January 2026
A Chairde,
Is aoibhinn liom a bheith anseo libh san RDS ag Gradaim Stripe Eolaí Óg na Bliana 2026, mo chéad uair anseo mar Uachtarán na hÉireann.
Is ócáid fíor spreagúil í seo agus guím gach rath ar na mic léinn ar fad atá rannpháirteach i gcomórtais na bliana seo.
Tuigim an obair mhór, an taighde agus an fhoghlaim atá déanta agaibh ar fad chun an éacht seo a bhaint amach. Tuigim, freisin, nach féidir a leithéid a bhaint amach gan cabhair a bheith ar fáil.
Gabhaim buíochas libhse, na múinteoirí agus na tuismitheoirí uilig a thug cuidiú agus dóchas do na daoine óga spreagúla atá linn inniu agus iad ag ullmhú a saothar don chomórtas, is léir go ndearna sibhse sár jab freisin.
Níl aon dabht ach go mbíonn meitheal mór i gceist in eagrú imeachta den scála seo agus tréaslaím leo siúd ar fad a bhí bainteach leis, is ábhar dóchais don todhchaí na deiseanna seo a bheith curtha ar fáil dár nglún óg.
The Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is an important event in the annual calendar for secondary school students to demonstrate their creativity, ingenuity and knowledge. The projects on display here are the wonderful end result of the rigorous application of the scientific method to these subjects.
Equally importantly, the annual Exhibition serves as an opportunity to put science and technology themselves under the microscope, and indeed to pose the question, what conclusions might society come to following a rigorous application of the scientific method to these subjects?
More specifically what questions are being asked, what data is being collected, the nature of the analysis carried out, the conclusions drawn, for what purpose, and to whose benefit?
There needs to be an open an honest debate on these issues so that science and technology can be part of the transformative change required to meet the interconnected challenges of our time – climate change, biodiversity loss, war, forced displacement, global hunger and poverty.
This transformative change cannot be achieved through science and technology alone however. The paradigm shift that we urgently need requires an interdisciplinary approach, encompassing science, technology, the arts and humanities.
Nowhere is the need for this interdisciplinary approach more evident than if we take climate change and view it through the lens of a climate justice perspective.
The climate crisis then becomes not a scientific problem to be solved solely with technological solutions, but a symptom of structural and systemic problems in our societies and economies – problems that are resulting in the concentration of wealth and power among more and more unaccountable interests that are increasingly influencing our democratic processes.
While I believe that science and technology have the greatest potential to serve the common good, it is important to remember that they are never neutral, in their purpose or application.
The choice of scientific topic and its purpose is so significant. That is why the decisions you make regarding the areas that you pursue for further study, investigation and exploration are critically important.
It is equally important to remember that in setting out on a scientific journey, we often learn as much either by our mistakes and/or through serendipity. Alexander Fleming and Wilhelm Röntgen come to mind.
When I look around today, I feel a sense of hope for the future – hope sourced not only in the brilliant young scientists I have met who are full of creativity, curiosity and ingenuity, but also enthusiastic global citizens.
And hope in a future in which, as the United Nations Secretary General has stated, there must be full respect – by all – of international law, including the United Nations Charter, a full respect for human rights and the rule of law. The recent loss of lives in Venezuela is an appalling and often overlooked consequence of recent actions.
Mar a dúirt mé, is ábhar dóchais domsa agus dóibh siúd ar fad a bhfuil de phribhléid acu siúl i bhur measc ag an taispeántas seo bhur saothar agus bhur gcruthaitheacht a fheiceáil.
Tugann sé dóchas dúinn go mbeidh ár muintir, ár dtír agus ár bpláinéad slán mar go bhfuil daoine óga mar sibhse ag teacht chun cinn le smaointe, le pleananna agus le réitigh chun tabhairt faoi dhúshláin na sochaí, na haeráide agus an domhain.
Nár lagaí bhur lúth nó bhur misneach.
Comhghairdeas ó chroí libh ar fad.
Beir bua is beir beannacht.