2023/2024
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'Students were the most independent they had been to date in their science learning They were very engaged and had fun from start to finish. They had practice with the scientific method but also presenting their ideas and working as a team '
Teacher's Comment
SciFest@School 2022/2023 Evaluation
Are you looking for an exciting way to engage your students in STEM?
To register to host a SciFest@School please visit the SciFest website or click on this link
Please note that you can now only register for a SciFest@School by filling out the online registration form.
A SciFest@School brings the excitement of a STEM fair right to your school, making learning interactive and engaging You can host a SciFest@School anytime throughout the academic year and it can be as big or as small as suits you, the teacher There's also no cost involved and SciFest even supplies a number of prizes. A SciFest school liaison officer will visit on the day of the fair to help with the judging
Over the summer we have been working hard revising the 'Guide to Doing a SciFest Project' and the module 'Science by Inquiry' for TY These are currently being designed and printed, thanks to support from the ESB Energy for Generations Fund and should be ready for distribution before Christmas. Hard copies of the two booklets will be supplied to all teachers who host a SciFest@School in this academic year
'It was amazing for students, teachers, parents and the wider school community. It allowed us to all come together and connect what is happening in the science classrooms and other classes. It was such a positive experience for our students and they already can't wait for the regionals & next year's SciFest@School
Teacher's Comment
SciFest@School 2022/2023 Evaluation
SciFest@School Castlepollard CC, Co. Westmeath
SciFest@School
SciFest@School Cistercian College, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
SciFest@School The Donahies CS, Dublin 13
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SciFest@CollegeMajorAwards
Students participating in SciFest@College STEM fairs have the opportunity to compete for a wide range of awards and prizes
MajorAwardsPresentedatSciFest@College2023
BestProjectAward
Runner-upBestProjectAward
BostonScientificMedicalDevicesAward
EirGridClimateandDeliveringaCleaner
EnergyFutureAward
IntelAward(BestTechnologyProject)
TheInstituteofPhysicsAward
BusinessExcellenceInstituteAward
SmurfitKappaSustainabilityAward
SciFestCommunicationAward
AccentureMathsinScienceAward
RegeneronLifeSciencesAward
SciFestChemistryStudentAward
As in previous years the 16 regional SciFest@College 2024 STEM fairs will take place from the end of March until the middle of May. As the dates become available they will be posted on the website, see link
Over 3000 students took part in SciFest@College 2023 This was almost double the number of students who took part in 2022 and similar to participation in 2019, the last year pre-COVID The students were drawn from 217 schools, 30% of all secondary schools in Ireland. Participating students presented almost 1500 projects, the majority of which addressed real-world problems, either local to the students themselves or to society more generally, both nationally and internationally.
In a survey of students taking part in the SciFest@College 2023 strand of the programme 79% said they intended to study a STEM subject at senior cycle and of those aiming to attend a third level institution, 67% said they planned to study a STEM subject Over 70% would like to find out more about STEM careers while only 19% said they could not see themselves working in a STEM career.
Discover Space Student Award (ESERO Ireland)
Irish Science Teachers' Association Award
Dawn Meats Agricultural Science Award
Please click here for a list of the SciFest@College 2023 major award winners.
The closing date for receipt of online entry forms to SciFest@College 2024 is Friday, 8 March 2024.
S C I F E S T @ C O L L E G E
SciFest@College 2023 TUS Thurles
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SciFest
SCIFEST 2023 NATIONAL FINAL
The SciFest 2023 National Final will take place on Thursday, 23 and Friday, 24 November The event will be launched online on a dedicated SciFest National Final website on Thursday with a number of STEM talks suitable for students and the general public. The in-person part of the programme will take place on Friday, 24 November in the Marino Conference Centre, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Judging of the projects will take place on Friday morning followed by an award ceremony in the afternoon. The award ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube
There will be lots of awards on the day including the SciFest STEM Champion 2023 Award. The winner/s of this award will receive a trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, California to compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) which takes place from 11-17 May 2024 The mentoring teacher will travel with the student/s.
Other awards include the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award, the Intel Technology Grand Award, the EirGrid Climate and Cleaner Energy Future Grand Award and the opportunity to attend the Berlin Long Night of Science.
SciFest STEM Champions 2022 Liam Waldron, Luke O'Sullivan and Rachel Griffin Killarney Community College, Co. Kerry
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SciFest 2023 National Final 23 and 24 November
Berlin Long Night of Science Award
Alex Scott and Anna Woodward from the Ursuline College in Sligo were the winners of the Berlin Long Night of Science Award at the SciFest 2022 National Final The award consisted of a trophy and an all expenses paid trip to attend the Berlin Long Night of Science They travelled to Berlin in June, accompanied on the trip by their teacher Anthony Carolan
Speaking about their experience of the Long Night of Science
Alex and Anna said:
'As we entered Berlin IT we were immediately greeted with an atmosphere buzzing with excitement and curiosity Each room contained interactive exhibits showcasing fascinating scientific achievements and discoveries. We then moved on to the Humboldt University of Berlin which was larger and even more vibrant than Berlin IT The air was filled with the hum of conversation and the music from the live jazz band, creating a wonderful aura. The venue was bustling with people of all ages and nationalities, all eager to learn and discover The hallways and corridors were adorned with engaging exhibits and colourful displays and banners. We found ourselves drawn to an interactive exhibit on optics We stumbled across a crowded lecture hall, where a renowned physicist was delivering an engaging presentation about symmetry. After the presentation, we were given the chance to talk to a physics student He explained the basics of quantum mechanics to us Leaving the Long Night of Science, we had learned so much and the whole experience had deepened our love for science and encouraged us to continue learning and discovering '
Anna and Alex in Berlin
