Sound-absorbing paint, 3D-printed prosthetics, outdoor retro-reflective Christmas decorations, a fall detector for the elderly and a tremor-controlling glove for people with Parkinson’s are among the entries in this year’s BT Young Scientist competition which begins this Wednesday.

A total of 4,449 students from 396 schools across Ireland submitted projects for the exhibition, which is a record number. BT Ireland says the gender split among entrants this year is 62 per cent female and 38 per cent male.

There are 857 entries in the social and behavioural sciences category, 539 in the biological and ecological sciences, 338 in the technology category and 314 in the chemical, physical and mathematical sciences category.

"This exhibition is all about recognising and nurturing emerging talent in our young people and to see the continued growth year on year is outstanding," BT Ireland managing director Shay Walsh says. The winner of the BT Young Scientist competition will be announced on Friday.

Last year’s event attracted more than 59,000 people.