M: 086 379 6143
E: info@scifest.ie
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This academic year has marked several significant achievements for SciFest. Now in its 19th year, SciFest continues to expand and evolve. Since its inception in 2006, the program has inspired and actively engaged over 115,000 students in STEM. This year saw a record-breaking 147 SciFest@ Schools fairs take place, representing an increase of over 40% from the previous academic year. Each year, we move closer to our primary mission: to ensure that every secondary-level student, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to participate in SciFest. The increase in SciFest@School fairs, is integral to the realisation of that mission, as it is the most accessible aspect of the SciFest programme. STEM education is a powerful tool for transforming society and the world, and we believe it is essential for every student to engage in inquiry-based learning both in the classroom and beyond.
On the international stage, SciFest STEM Champion 2023, Jack Shannon from Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare represented Ireland at Regeneron ISEF 2024 in Los Angeles, California, coming away with two top awards. Jack was placed First in the ‘Environmental Engineering’ category and also won the prestigious EUCYS award which earns the teenager an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Poland in September. In June, two students from Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty, Meabh O'Sullivan and Sarah Harte, accompanied by their teacher Claire Holland, visited the Berlin Long Night of Science in Germany. They attended as winners of the Berlin Long Night of Science Award at the SciFest National Final 2023. SciFest@TCPID (The Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities) 2024 took place on 30 May in Regent House at Trinity College Dublin. This year also marks the second year of the SciFest DEIS School programme, with 44 DEIS schools signing up for SciFest@School this year, another record.
SciFest is not a one-off event but an ongoing initiative that takes place year-round across the island of Ireland, providing opportunities for students of all abilities and circumstances without prohibitive costs and through various access points. These opportunities are made possible by the generous support of our growing community of sponsors, for which we are incredibly grateful. We eagerly anticipate the next academic year and aim to build on the significant growth achieved this year, as the programme continues to serve more students, teachers, schools, and communities than ever before.
Students from St. Raphaela's Secondary School, Dublin and Oatlands College, Dublin present their projects at the SciFest 2024 Launch in February
INTRODUCTION
SciFest is Ireland’s largest STEM fair programme for second-level students. SciFest’s mission is to ensure every second-level student has an opportunity to develop critical STEM skillsets through participation in a STEM fair, irrespective of their ability, background or circumstance. SciFest operates across the whole island of Ireland and throughout the entire school year and, being locally and regionally based and free to enter, it is highly inclusive and accessible.
The SciFest programme is implemented at four levels:
1. Local: SciFest@School
STEM fairs in schools, TCPID and Teen-Turn. At local level, SciFest supports schools to host their own in-house STEM fair with prizes, certificates, posters, ‘freebies’, a teacher’s pack and help with judging.
2. Regional: SciFest@College
16 STEM fairs hosted in ATU (3 venues), TUS (3 venues) TU Dublin (3 venues), DkIT, DCU, MTU (2 venues), SETU (2 venues) and St Mary’s College, Derry.
3. National: SciFest National Final
The National Final is held every November in Dublin for award winners from regional SciFest@College fairs. Projects are evaluated by a panel of judges from academia, business and government.
4. International
Winning students from the SciFest National Final successfully represent Ireland on a number of STEM platforms across the world, including the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and the Berlin Long Night of Science in Germany.
Nina Massalve, from Christ King Secondary School, South Douglas Road, Cork, proudly displays her project, “AP2AAcademic Pathways Advisor App,” during the judging at SciFest@College in MTU Cork
SCIFEST 2023/2024 Overall
The Numbers
• 15,439 Students
• 920 Teachers
• 6583 Projects
• 314 Schools
• 29 Counties
• 165 STEM Fairs
• Participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
• Participation in the Berlin Long Night of Science
SciFest - Total Participation 2008 – 2024
*The total participation figures are less than the sum of those for the school and college strands – see below –since a number of projects are entered in both strand
2024
SCIFEST@SCHOOL 2023/2024
SciFest@School – The Numbers
• 13,173 Students
• 5461 Projects
• 148 School STEM Fairs
• 144 Schools
• 649 Teachers
This strand of the SciFest programme was launched in 2011 and has been growing rapidly ever since. A SciFest@School STEM fair can be hosted by a school at any stage in the academic year This year marked numerous considerable milestones in the SciFest@School level of the programme with a record-breaking 144 schools participating, a 40% increase on the last academic year. We greatly look forward to building on the momentum gained in SciFest@School this academic year.
Prize winning projects at SciFest@School in Coláiste an Chraoibhín, Fermoy, Co. Cork
Students from Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12 and SciFest Founder and CEO, Sheila Porter, celebrate a successful SciFest@School fair
All participating students from Kilrush Community College, Kilrush, Co. Clare pose for a photo
Students from the Cúnamh Unit at Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Claregalway, Co. Galway enjoy their success
SCIFEST@COLLEGE 2024
Over 3,100 students from 246 schools submitted more than 1500 projects across SciFest@College this year. Well done to all and special Congratulations to all the lucky award winners. A full list of the winners is posted on the SciFest website. In recognition of their achievement all participating students receive a specially designed certificate. The winners from the regional SciFest@College venues now have an opportunity to develop their projects further and we look forward to seeing them at this year's SciFest National Final on 29 November 2024
SciFest@College– The Numbers
• 3101 Students
• 1505 Projects
• 246 Schools
• 357 Teachers
• 1857 Female Students
• 15 Regional STEM Fairs
SciFest@College Participation 2020 - 2024
SciFest@College2011 – 2024 Female Participation
Soumyadeep Saha, Swapnil Pahari and their Teacher, Ms. Aisling Mullen from Ardscoil Rís, Limerick, celebrate winning The Best Project Award at TUS Limerick
Project Entries by Age Category
Projects by Discipline Category
Student Entrants by Gender
SCIFEST NATIONAL FINAL 2023
Kamaya Gogna from St Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co. Dublin, explains her project “Using Machine Learning to Identify Radiolucencies on Panoramic Dental Radiographs (OPGs)”
SciFest STEM Champions 2023, Jack Shannon from Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare
The SciFest National Final took place on Friday 24 November in the Marino Conference Centre in Dublin and showcased the exceptional accomplishments in STEM of second-level students from across Ireland. The event was launched online the previous evening by Philip Smyth, Broadcaster and Science Communicator. There was an incredible atmosphere in the hall as students from every corner of Ireland set up their projects and shared their innovative ideas with judges, teachers, their peers and our guests. The excitement built through the Awards Ceremony as each participant received an Excellence in STEM Award. Fifteen special awards were presented, including the coveted SciFest STEM Champion 2023 Award. Richard Bruton, TD speaking at the Awards Ceremony emphasised the importance of the community of sponsors that support SciFest The SciFest STEM Champion 2023 Award was presented to Jack Shannon, from Clongowes Wood, Clane, Co. Kildare. .
Surabhi Sathish from Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny proudly displays her project, “IRIS: The Intelligent Recycling Sorting System”
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SCIFEST ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
Jack Shannon, SciFest STEM Champion 2023 from Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare, represented Ireland at Regeneron ISEF 2024 in Los Angeles, winning two major awards - First Place in 'Environmental Engineering' and one of the overall awards, the prestigious EUCYS award. This award includes an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Poland in September. Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, involving some 1,700 students from over 67 countries and territories competing for a prize fund totalling $9 million
Jack secured his place at the international competition when he was named SciFest STEM Champion 2023 at the SciFest 2023 National Final last November. He claimed first prize for his project ‘Ireland’s Carbon Sinks – Remote Sensing for Monitoring Peatland Restoration’.
His study utilised remote sensing techniques for monitoring peatland restoration in Ireland. Two distinct peatland sites, Clara bog and Keelbanada bog, were investigated to assess the effectiveness of multispectral, LiDAR, SAR, and InSAR analyses in tracking restoration progress and degradation. These methodologies supply regular and precise data on restoration progress and degradation areas, enhancing restoration planning and management.
Speaking about attending ISEF, Jack Shannon said: “I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to attend and participate in Regeneron ISEF in Los Angeles, California. This was a great opportunity to showcase my skills and creativity on a global stage and I am over the moon to have won two awards. Having worked so hard on my project, I’m delighted to have been able to meet with other students and see their projects. I’m so thankful to my family, friends, teachers and everyone at SciFest, who have supported me on this journey.”
In June, two students from Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty, Meabh O'Sullivan and Sarah Harte, accompanied by their teacher Claire Holland, visited the Berlin Long Night of Science in Germany. They attended as winners of the Berlin Long Night of Science Award at the SciFest National Final 2023. The trip is facilitated by the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy in Berlin.
Jack Shannon alongside his teacher Ms Yvonne Nolan at Regeneron ISEF in Los Angeles, California
Meabh O'Sullivan and Sarah Harte alongside their teacher Ms Claire Holland and Deputy Head of Mission, John Lynam at the Embassy of Ireland, Germany in Berlin
MEDIA PRESENCE
• SciFest website: Over 120,000 page views
• Media Placements: SciFest receives approximately 400 media placements annually, including in regional and national newspapers, radio, television and online.
• Social Media:
✓ TWITTER – 7,751 followers
✓ FACEBOOK – 3200 followers
✓ INSTAGRAM – 1,798 followers
✓ LINKEDIN – 589 followers
✓ FLICKR – 18,746 photos
✓ YOUTUBE – 207 videos
✓ ISSUU– 71 ezines (4 per year)
Lily Cahill from Kinsale Community College, Kinsale, Co. Cork is presented with Best Project Award at SciFest@College in MTU Cork by SciFest Founder and CEO, Ms. Sheila Porter
SciFest 2024 Partners and Sponsors
The Technological Universities (ATU, MTU, SETU, TU Dublin, TUS) DkIT, DCU, St. Mary’s College, Derry
