SciFestEzine
Please visit the SciFest 2024 National Final website www.scifestfinal2024.ie to view the students’ projects, the awards ceremony and speakers
Maura Moore-McCune: SciFest STEM Champion 2024
Maura Moore-McCune, a student fromTheKing’sHospitalSchoolin Palmerstown, Dublin, was crowned theSciFestSTEMChampion2024at thisyear’sSciFestNationalFinal.Her outstandingprojectalsoearnedher the prestigious Boston Scientific MedicalDevicesGrandAward.
Mauraqualifiedtoparticipateinthe SciFest 2024 National Final by winningtheBestProjectRunner-up
Award and the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award at the regional SciFest@CollegefairinTUDublin,Tallaght in May She will now go on to represent Ireland and SciFest at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio, next May This incredible achievement highlights Maura’s exceptional talent, creativity and dedication to STEM, setting an inspiring example for young innovators across Ireland
Maura with her teacher Ciaran O’Connor and SheilaPorter,SciFest
MaurawithMichaelWalsh,BostonScientific
Sarah Sexton Director of Public Affairs, Intel Ireland
‘At Intel, we recognise the value in educating the young people of today to help them to flourish and reach their full potential It is the inquisitive minds of today that will create the innovations of tomorrow Having seen the excellent work done by students participating in SciFest, we are confident that the future of the STEM industries in Ireland is in very capable hands ’
Philip LeTutour Director, Manufacturing Engineering, Boston Scientific Galway
‘STEM education is a top priority for our business, our patients, and our communities. We are delighted to see such high-quality talent once again participating in this year’s National Final. STEM events like Scifest motivate young individuals to pursue their education in STEM-related fields, which will help build a brighter society and a brighter future for everyone. We witness this reality every day in our business –the diligent STEM students of today become the pioneers of healthcare innovation in the future.’
SciFest National Final 2024
Nowinits19thyear,SciFesthasgrowntobecomeIreland’slargest andmostinclusiveall-islandSTEMfairprogrammeforsecond-level students.The2024NationalFinaltookplaceovertwodays,Thursday, 28NovemberandFriday,29November
Day1:OnlineProgramme
TheeventopenedonlinewithanofficialwelcomebyPhilipSmyth, broadcaster and science communicator, followed by a series of insightfultalksFordetailedinformationaboutthespeakersandtheir presentations,pleasevisittheSciFest2024NationalFinalwebsite.
Day2:In-PersonProgramme
On Friday, the National Final was held at the Marino Conference Centre, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9, where students from across the islandshowcasedtheirinnovativeprojects TheAwardsCeremony wasstreamedliveontheNationalFinalwebsiteandonYouTube. This year, 62 students qualified to compete in the National Final, representingthebestofSTEMtalentfromeverycorneroftheisland. Thediversityofresearchtopicswastrulyimpressive,withprojects rangingfromanin-depthinvestigationinto"IrishHoneybeesandthe ParasiticVarroaMite"toacutting-edge"UseofMachineLearningto Identify Radiolucencies on Panoramic Dental Radiographs." These studentsrepresentedacross-sectionofIreland’sscientificpotential, and with girls outnumbering boys two to one, the event also highlightedapositiveshiftingenderrepresentationinSTEM
Judgingtookplaceinthemorningwitheachprojectbeingjudgedbyat least six judges and a minimum of three times At 2 pm students, teachers,parents,judgesandinvitedguestsexcitedlygatheredinthe lecturetheatre.PhilipSmythopenedtheawardsceremony,settingatone ofinspirationandcelebration AspecialvideomessagefromEuropean Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti followed, sharing encouragement and words of wisdom with the young innovators. Cristoforetti'smessageemphasisedthepowerofcuriosityandresilience inscientificpursuit,addinganextralayerofexcitementandaspirationto theday’sproceedings.TheawardceremonycanbeviewedontheSciFest 2024NationalFinalwebsitehere
Maura’sProject-‘VIPMOD:VisionImpairedPerson'sMoving ObjectDetector’
Mauradevelopedanapptodetectfastmovingobjects,sothatvisionimpairedpeople canlivesaferandmoreindependentlives Theprojectevolvedthroughsixprototypes ThefirstthreeprototypesusedMicro:bits Prototype4usedGPStechnology Prototype 5isanappwhichusesaTensorFlowjsImageClassificationmodeltodetectoncoming vehiclesandotherobjects Theappdisplaystheobject'sname,vibratesandissuesa text-to-speechwarning Finally,Prototype6isanapplicationthatestimatesthespeed of oncoming objects It uses a YOLOv8 model to analyse input footage Prototype 5 wastestedinacontrolledsetting,with95%accuracy(316trials) VisionIrelandwillbe testingVIPMODintheWayFindingCentre-anindoorenvironmentreplicatingtherealworldexperienceofusingpublictransportforvisionimpairedpeople.
‘This marks our fourth year partnering with SciFest, and it has been inspiring to witness the programme's remarkable growth, as students across Ireland dedicate time to research and develop groundbreaking projects Being associated with a programme that aligns so closely with EirGrid’s values holds great importance for us ’
Claire Wallace, Interim Head of Strategy and Sustainability, EirGrid
‘In partnership with SciFest, our ambition is to inspire young students to pursue future careers in STEM and to see the opportunity before them, equipped with these disciplines, to enhance human health and improve the lives of patients all over the world.’
Paul O’Neill, Executive Vice President, Quality & Operations, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
SciFest 2024 National Final Award Winners
Award SciFest STEMChampion2024
Student Maura Moore-McCune
Project VIPMOD: Vision Impaired Person's Moving Object Detector
School The King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown,Dublin 20
Teacher Ciaran O'Connor
Award Teacher of Excellence Award 2024
School The King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown,Dublin 20
Teacher Ciaran O'Connor
Award SciFest STEMChampion2024 Runner-UpAward
Student Lily Cahill
Project Investigating Whether ChildhoodImaginaryCompanionsImpactSocial Competence and Coping Skillsin TeenageYears
School Kinsale Community School, Kinsale, Co. Cork
Teacher Shaun Holly
Award Berlin Long Night of Science Award 2024
Student Fionn Campbell
Project A Crystal-Clear Way toSlow DownIreland'sEnergyCrisis
School Moate Community School,Moate,Co.Westmeath
Teacher Mairead Cusack
Award BostonScientificMedical Devices Grand Award2024
Student Maura Moore-McCune
Project VIPMOD: Vision Impaired Person's Moving Object Detector
School The King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown,Dublin 20
Teacher Ciaran O'Connor
Award Boston ScientificMedical Devices GrandAward Runner-up2024
Student GráinneNíChróinín
Project NoMore Ice,Ice Baby!
School GaelcholáisteCharraighUíLeighin, Carrigaline, Co. Cork
Teacher SeánÓFinn
Award EirGrid Cleaner Climate GrandAward2024
Students Matthew Daly, RoryMaguire
Project How"Green"aretheLocal GAAClubs? Comparingthe CarbonFootprints of ourRuralGAAClubs
School PresentationCollege, Headford, Co. Galway
Teacher John Toner
Award Intel Technology Award2024
Students LillieLi andMilesBueno
Project FindingHabitableExoplanetson the NASADatabasewith theHelpofAI
School ColáisteChiaráin,Croom, Co. Limerick
Teacher EdelFarrell
Award MallinckrodtSTEMExcellence Award2024
Student Orlaith Connors
Project MITESBEEGONE! AnInvestigation of IrishHoneybeesandTheirNatural ControlMechanismof the ParasiticVarroaMite
School Gort Community School,Ennis Rd, Gort,Co.Galway
Teacher Tim Collins
Award SciFestSTEM OutreachVideoAward2024
Student MichaelaGillooly
Project Own Your Cycle,OwnYourGame
School Glenamaddy CommunitySchool, Glenamaddy,Co.Galway
Teacher Aoife Collins
SciFest 2024 National
Final Award Winners
Award SciFest Social Sciences Award 2024
Students Áine Ní Fhearraigh, Kerry Magner, MuireannHaicéid
Project Cé Mhéad Leictreachais is Féidir le Roth Uisce Simplí a Ghiniúint, agus anLeor é Chun RoinntSoilsea Lasadh?
School Pobalscoil GhaothDobhair, NaDoirí Beaga, Leitir Ceannain, Co.Dhún nanGall
Teacher Susan Ní Loinsigh
Award SciFest Life Sciences Award 2024
Students Cara Mullen, Emmalise O'Boyle
Project Investigating theEffect of Microplastic Concentrations on Plant Growth and Nutrition
School Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan,Co.Dublin
Teacher Daniel Toomey
Award THEA Award 2024
Students Ríona O'Farrell,Megan Bohan
Project Feathered Frequencies:The Inventionofa Bird Deterrent SoundSystem toEliminate BirdStrikes
School Ursuline College,Sligo
Teacher Anthony Carolan
Award ISTAAward 2024
Students Miriam Senior, Seána Dunne, David Fitzpatrick
Project Extracting Latexfrom Dandelions and Using it to Make a Glue toFinda Sustainable AlternativeSource for Latex
School Mountrath Community School, Mountrath, Co. Laois
Teacher Laura Thompson
Award SciFest Junior Scientist of the FutureAward 2024
Students Robyn O'Hanlon, Emilia Aherne, Elodie Wallace
Project Mushrooms vs NormalBuilding Material
School St Conleth's College, Clyde Road, Dublin 4
Teacher Diego Cavallaro
Award SciFest Junior TechnologistoftheFuture Award 2024
Student Addison Carey
Project Enhancing Data Security in AI Training Using Zero-Knowledge Proofs forSecureMethodology Development
School Celbridge Community School,Celbridge, Co. Kildare
Teacher Zita Murphy
Lily Cahill, Kinsale Community School, Co. Cork Fionn Campbell, Moate Community School, Co. Westmeath
Gráinne Ní Chróinín, Gaelcholáiste Charraigh Uí Leighin, Co. Cork with Kevin Byrne, Boston Scientific
Matthew Daly, Rory Maguire, Presentation College, Headford, Co. Galway with Dr Noelle Ameijenda, EirGrid
Miles Bueno, Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, Co. Limerick with Sarah Sexton, Intel Ireland
Orlaith Connors, Gort Community School, Co. Galway with Brian McCormack, Mallinckrodt
Michaela Gillooly, Glenamaddy Community School, Co. Galway with Hugo Rowsome, SciFest
Áine Ní Fhearraigh, Kerry Magner, Muireann Haicéid, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Leitir Ceannain, Co. Dhún na nGall
O'Hanlon,
Cara Mullen, Emmalise O'Boyle, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Ríona O'Farrell, Megan Bohan, Ursuline College, Sligo
Miriam Senior, Seána Dunne, David Fitzpatrick, Mountrath Community School, Co. Laois with Rory Geoghegan, ISTA
Robyn
Emilia Aherne, Elodie Wallace, St Conleth's College, Clyde Road, Dublin 4
Addison Carey, Celbridge Community School, Co. Kildare
Breaking News from SciFest
SciFest@School2024/2025
SciFest@Schoolcontinuestogofromstrengthtostrength,withnearly 90 schools already registered to host their own in-house SciFest@SchoolSTEMfairinthecurrentacademicyear.
ToregistertohostaSciFest@SchoolfairpleasegotoSciFest@School Registration.
To view a full updated list of SciFest@School fairs 2024/2025 go to SciFest@SchoolFairs2024/2025.
SciFest@College2025
The closing date for receipt of completed entry forms for SciFest@College2025isWednesday12March2025
Entry is free and entry forms will be available online from the end of January Datesoffairsandcontactdetailsforthecoordinatorsineach venueareavailablehere
Aftersubmittingtheirentryformstudentsshouldcontinuetoworkon theirprojectuntilthedateofthefairintheirchosenvenue
MallinckrodtJoinsSciFestasaProject Partner
SciFest is delighted to announce that Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (‘Mallinckrodt’) has joined the programme as a Project Partner, alongside Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific and EirGrid Mallinckrodt, a global specialty pharmaceutical company, develops medicines and therapies that address unmet patient needs and improve outcomes forpatientswithsevereandcriticalconditions Readmorehere.
Jack’sJourneyContinues
PublicProfile
Jack Shannon’s journey from a curious thirteen-year-old to an internationallyrecognisedyoungresearcherhasbeennothingshortof inspiring This November, he exhibited his groundbreaking research at the prestigious Sigma Xi International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE) in Washington, DC, earning a First Place Category Award in Environmental Science. As further recognition of his research Jack has been inducted into Sigma Xi, an organization founded in 1886 to recognise the best and brightest minds in science and engineering. Membership of Sigma Xi to date has included some 200 Nobel Laureates Readmorehere
RTEVisitsSciFest@SchoolFair
On 7 November 2024, the RTE News2Day team, led by Barry Gallagher, visitedStAndrew'sCollege,DublinfortheirannualSciFest@SchoolSTEM fair Over 170 second-year students presented an impressive 92 projects,showcasingastandardofinnovationanddedicationthatwas trulyremarkable Watchhere
Jack at IFoRE with Dr Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., FREng, SLMH
Paul O’Neill, Executive Vice President, Quality & Operations, Mallinckrodt, Mary Culkin, Vice President Global Quality, Mallinckrodt with Sheila and George Porter, SciFest
SciFest 2024 in Numbers
Thank You
As SciFest 2024 comes to a close, we are proud to say it has been another truly memorable year.
We sincerely thank the students, teachers, parents, judges, regional coordinators and their teams,ourvaluedpartners,Intel,BostonScientific,EirGrid,andMallinckrodt,andalloursponsors fortheircontinuedsupportanddedication
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a joyful New Year. We look forward to working with you again in 2025 to build on this year's success!
