Scifest 2022 winners

Brian O Reilly

Three Leaving Cert students from Killarney Community College will go on to present their award-winning STEM project at ISEF 2023.

An investigation of Pythagoras’ theorem has taken the top prize at this year’s SciFest competition. Finalists from across Ireland attended the national final at the Marino Conference Centre in Dublin. Sixth-year students Liam Waldron, Rachel Griffin and Luke O’Sullivan from Killarney Community College, Co Kerry, were named the 2022 champions.

Their winning project approached the well-known geometry theorem learned by heart by many a maths student through the framework of group theory. This involves the study of algebraic structures known as groups, a concept central to abstract algebra. Its study has applications in physics, chemistry, materials science and cryptography.

The winning SciFest trio will now bring their project to the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas. Their teacher Maire Spillane was also awarded the prize for science teacher of the year.

Principal Stella Loughnane was thrilled for the students and their teacher on such a fantastic achievement, “Killarney Community College prides itself on its dedication to promoting STEAM subjects in the school. The award reflects the students’ hard work, innovation and research skills and their inspirational teacher. ”