SciFest Ezine, Volume 4, Number 4, February 2013

e n i z E t s e F i c S www.scifest.ie

Volume 4, Number 4

February 2013

Launch of SciFest 2013

by Minister Sean Sherlock, TD SciFest 2013 was officially launched by Min-

Inside this issue:

ister Seán Sherlock, TD, in Davis College, Mallow on Monday 28 January. The new

New SciFest Website 2

SciFest website was also launched on the same occasion. The launch was preceded in

Long Night of Science 2012 by Claire Keaveney Jimenez

2

the morning by a photoshoot with the Minister in one of the college labs. The launch itself was attended by over 30 people includ-

From problem state- 3 ment to presentation

ing representatives from industry, a number

SciFest 2013 exhibition dates and venues

4

ers. A number of students also attended

The Sponsors

4

A Good Project Guide 4 Special Awards

4

of the ITs, NCCA, NCE-MSTL and local teach-

Minister Sean Sherlock with students from Davis College, Mallow

with their SciFest projects. The audience was

of science is crucial if we are to be guaran-

welcomed by the Deputy Principal of Davis

teed a steady ‘pipeline’ of young people who

College and there were short presentations

choose to study STEM disciplines – this will

on behalf of SFI/DSE, Intel and SciFest. The

be vital if we are to become a true knowl-

formal proceedings were followed by light

edge economy. SciFest gives students the

refreshments and an opportunity to view

opportunity to put their knowledge of sci-

the students’ projects and network.

ence to the test and present it in a fun and

Speaking at the launch Minister Sherlock said ‘ : “The Government’s Action Plan for FACT

Jobs stresses the importance of STEM in pro-

227 schools participated in SciFest 2012

viding the skills necessary to create high quality jobs for the economy. The promotion

creative way, it promotes the learning of science and enables students to demonstrate their knowledge and passion for science on a public platform, thus facilitating recognition from their peers.”

Visit the new-look SciFest website www.scifest.ie Closing date for receipt of entries to SciFest 2013 is

8 March Download an entry form and guidelines today

Page 2

SciFest Ezine

New SciFest Website—www.scifest.ie The new website was completed

Exhibition Dates and Contact details, Entry

It is intended to continue to add

and content from the old site up-

Guidelines and Entry Forms can now all be

content to the site as resources

loaded in the week preceding the

downloaded from the website. Also available

allow. The next phase of the devel-

launch on 28 January. The website

are a number of useful support materials such

opment of the site will be the inclu-

is based on the Drupal CMS which is

as a 32 page module suitable for TY, ’Science

sion of a facility for students to

user-friendly and has good potential

by Inquiry’ - a step-by-step guide to classroom

enter the SciFest@College fairs

for expansion. The site includes a

research and doing a project, worksheets, pro-

online. If finance can be made avail-

search facility, a Flickr account and

ject ideas, lists of useful websites, books, etc.

able it is hoped that this facility will be in place in time for entry to

live Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Like SciFest on Facebook

The website will be continually updated, both directly and through Twitter and Facebook.

Follow SciFest on Twitter

SciFest 2014.

Watch SciFest on YouTube

Check out the website today.

Long Night of Science 2012 by Claire Keaveney Jimenez

By Claire Keaveney-Jimenez , Scoil Mhuire, Sidney Place, Wellington Road, Cork On arrival we were warmly greeted at the airport by Sarah McGrath, the First Secretary at the Irish Embassy in Berlin, invited to lunch and then taken on a tour of the Embassy. On the second day I visited the university where I was shown around by PhD researcher, Amelie Biermann. I learned about photoluminescence, Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). I was given the opportunity to talk about my project and received some very useful advice. However, the highlight was definitely getting a chance to see the new high-tech Transmission Electron Microscope at the UniverClaire with Professor Steinback,

Long Night of Science

sity. I saw gold foil at an atomic level. It really was amazing. Seeing the individual atoms and observing how they move about really brought everything I had learned in my science books in Ireland to life.

On Saturday, Sarah McGrath arranged for me to meet with Robert Shorten and his

The Long Night of Science is an an-

wife, Jana Haase, who are both scientists working between Ireland and Germany. It

nual event which is held each year in

was great to hear both their views on science in the two countries and also about

Berlin and Potsdam. From 5 p.m.

their work. We also discussed my project and Robert told me about a group he had

until 1 a.m., teaching and research

worked with who harnessed power from rucksacks hitting off your back when walk-

facilities open their doors to the

ing. He didn’t know whether they used piezo like me but he said he would find out

public.

m

As Best Project Award winner at

An important part of the trip was an invite from Professor Steinbach (President of

SciFest@CIT 2012 Claire was invited

the TU Berlin) to join the VIP tour at the University as part of TU Berlin’s ‘Lange

by the Irish Embassy in Berlin to at-

Nacht

tend the celebrations.

o

r

e

der

a

n

Wissenschaft’

d

e

(Long

-

Night

m

a

of

i

l

Science)

m

e

.

celebrations.

Volume 4, Number 4

Page 3

The tour began at six and after Profes-

neers to develop and test a new type of

sor Steinbach kindly welcomed and in-

boat that clears up oil spills and a new

troduced me, we watched a very enter-

system to locate and rescue people who

taining chemistry demonstration about

fall overboard. The tour’s next stop was

light and colour, which caught the at-

a talk about acoustics and noise re-

tention of young people and adults

search for the modern city. This is very

alike. After this, we were brought to

topical in Berlin as the new airport that

what were the old GDR dockyards and

has just been built in the city has led to

creating an ideal sample city on the site

saw how the space is being used today

discussion of many controversial issues.

that could be expanded in the future.

by the University’s scientists and engi-

For the final part of the tour we were

We learned that new master’s degree

brought to a former gas storage site

courses such as energy-efficient con-

where we learned of the University’s

struction and operation of buildings,

exciting plans for the “City of Tomor-

energy-efficient urban transport sys-

row”. We heard of the hopes to create

tems and urban supply infrastructures

a ”Reality laboratory” on the site where

were being introduced at the university.

the buildings would be highly energy

After a thoroughly interesting and fasci-

efficient and the principles of sustain-

nating night, we headed back to the

ability, e-Mobility and smart cities

hotel inspired by science’s plans for our

would be key. The vision is to start by

future.

‘Seeing the individual atoms and observing how they move about really brought everything I had learned in my science books in Ireland to life.’

Claire Keaveney-Jimenez

From problem statement to presentation

SciFest Contact details: e: sheila.porter@scifest.ie e: george.porter@scifest.ie m: 086 379 6143 w: www.scifest.ie

SciFest 2013 Exhi bition Dates IT/Venue Exhibition Date DIT 22 March IT Tralee 12 April CIT 19 April LIT 1 May WIT 1 May AIT 1 May IT Carlow 2 May IT Sligo 3 May DkIT 8 May ITT 8 May LyIT 10 May IT Blanchardsto wn 14 May GMIT 16 May LIT Tipperary TBD SciFest North-W est, University of Ulster-Magee TBD Campus

Sponsored by the people who care about STEM education

A good project guide 1. Choosing an idea

3. Getting organised

 

Talk to your parents, your teacher, your friends

 

Make out a timetable

      

Visit the school library



Set up a shared folder to share information

Check out the Internet for project ideas (www.scifest.ie, www.sciencebuddies.com)

If it’s a group project arrange times when the team can meet e.g. Dropbox www.dropbox.com

Watch the news and read the newspapers Have you a hobby?

Is there a particular area of science you are interested in?

4. A Fair Test

2. Is the idea workable?

    

 

Have you researched the idea as much as possible?

There are SPECIAL AWARDS for some topics

   

As a result of your investigations can you collect data?

Are you good at maths?

Do you like solving problems?

Is there something you would like to invent?

Can you carry out tests or investigations to support your idea?

Only change the factor you are investigating Keep all other factors constant Have a control Repeat the experiment a number of times Be prepared to change your approach when necessary

e.g.

Chem

istry

ation Communic ls il sk

Have you access to the chemicals or equipment you need?

Is your proposed investigation safe?

Is there someone (an expert) that can give you advice on your chosen topic?

Maths

Susta inab Energ le y

Spa

ce