Irish Student Addison Carey Wins Gold at Eskom Expo International Science Fair for Groundbreaking Cybersecurity Project
Transition Year student Addison Carey from Celbridge Community School has achieved international acclaim by winning a prestigious Gold Medal at the 45th Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) for her outstanding project on strengthening cybersecurity in the era of quantum computing.
The event took place from 6–10 October 2025 at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together some of the world’s brightest young scientific minds. Addison was selected to represent Ireland and SciFest after winning the SciFest Best Project Award at SciFest@College in TU Dublin Tallaght earlier this year.
This marks a historic first, as Addison is the first Irish student to compete in person at the Eskom Expo ISF. In 2024, two SciFest students, Maura Moore-McCune from The King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown, Dublin 20, and Kamaya Gogna from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush, Co. Dublin competed successfully online, paving the way for Ireland’s growing presence at this major international event.
Addison’s project, “Advancing Post-Quantum Lattice-based Cryptography by Developing Efficient Shortest Vector Problem Approaches,” addresses one of the most pressing challenges of modern technology: protecting data against future quantum attacks. Her work focuses on improving lattice-based cryptography, a leading candidate for post-quantum security, by developing more efficient algorithms to solve complex mathematical problems that underpin encryption systems. Her research represents an important step toward stronger, more resilient methods for securing digital information in a quantum-powered future.
“It was an incredible experience to represent Ireland and SciFest on such a global stage,” said Addison Carey. “Quantum computing poses both exciting opportunities and serious security challenges. Through this project, I wanted to explore how we can stay ahead of those challenges and keep our data safe in the years to come. Winning a gold medal was beyond what I ever expected — it’s truly an honour. I’d like to thank my parents, my teacher, Ms Zita Murphy, and the entire SciFest team for all their encouragement and support along the way.”
Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO, congratulated Addison on her success: “Sincere congratulations to Addison on being awarded a Gold Medal at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair. Her success is a tremendous honour for her school, her teacher, SciFest and Ireland, and a powerful testament to the excellence and creativity inspired by science in Irish schools.”
The Eskom Expo International Science Fair, now in its 45th year, is Africa’s largest science fair, attracting hundreds of young scientists from across the continent and beyond. It provides a unique opportunity for students to showcase innovative research, exchange ideas, and engage with global experts in science and technology.
Addison’s achievement is a landmark moment for Irish STEM education, underscoring SciFest’s mission to nurture curiosity, innovation and excellence among students across Ireland.