On our travels through the BTYSTE 2018 crowd, we explored cryptocurrency and the possibility of eating insects.

The 2018 edition of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) offered a smorgasbord of innovation and creativity from some of the country’s brightest minds.

We chatted to a few of the entrants to learn more about their novel ideas.

One of those was a team from Limerick’s Coláiste Nano Nagle – Caitríona O’Halloran, Amy O’Halloran and Kerri Cleary – which tackled the issue of FOMO (fear of missing out) and social media addiction in a range of age groups.

Meanwhile, Ruby Mitchell Sherwin and Mia Kelly from Skerries Community College explored the nutritional benefits and cultural attitudes towards eating insects.

We also spoke to Patrick Sheridan from Méanscoil na mBráithre in Clare, who gave us a fascinating and impressive insight into the possibilities for energy-efficient bitcoin mining, while Natalia Kowalczyk and Mairead Dennehy from St Aloysius’ College in Carrigtwohill examined how snail gel could have a positive effect in the treatment of scarring.

Words by Ellen Tannam