SciFest Ezine, Volume 12, Number 2, December 2020

SciFest Ezine NATIONAL FINAL SPECIAL EDITION VOLUME 12, ISSUE 2, DECEMBER 2020

SCIFEST SFI STEM CHAMPION 2020 CAOIMHÍN O'LEARY, ARD SCOIL NA MARA, TRAMORE CO. WATERFORD Caoimhín O'Leary, a fifth year student from Ard Scoil na Mara in Tramore, Co. Waterford was named the SciFest SFI STEM Champion 2020 at the SciFest National Final which took place virtually from 19-21 November. Caoimhín developed an innovative video analysis measurement system for rehabilitating patients after joint injury or joint surgery and will go on to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) next May.

In this Issue SciFest 2020 Goes Virtual

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SciFest 2020 National Final Award Winners

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SciFest 2020 National Final Regeneron ISEF 2021 Broadcom MASTERS International 2021

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SciFest 2020 STEM Outreach Award SciFest@School 2020/2021 SciFest@School 2020/2021 Awards

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Contact Details

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SCIFEST 2020 GOES VIRTUAL AND IS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

@scifest4stem

This year’s SciFest National Final took place on a specially designed online platform from Thursday 19 November to Saturday 21 November. We were delighted to be able to welcome not only students, teachers and parents to this inspiring showcase of young people’s research but also, for the first time, the general public.

The platform went live on Monday 14 November to give the public an opportunity to view the finalists’ projects, vote for their favourite project and test their scientific knowledge in daily competitions. The main programme

opened officially on Thursday with a special guest

speaker, Maya Ajmera, President and CEO at Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News in the United States. This was followed by Prof. Shane O’Mara from the Trinity Institute of Neuroscience discussing the science of walking. Throughout Friday there was a series of exciting STEM-related talks and presentations which included an update on COVID-19 from Prof. Luke O’Neill. We were very honoured that Donegal’s own Nobel Laureate, Prof. William C Campbell agreed to be interviewed by Dr Claire O’Connell on Friday evening. Other speakers included ‘Scientific Sue’, Founder and CEO of Science2Life, Prof. Laoise McNamara, NUIG, Prof. Aoife McLysaght, TCD, Prof. Niamh Nic Daéid, University of Dundee, Dr Ruth Freeman, SFI, Dr Yvonne Kavanagh, IOP, Aláine Lee, SciFest Alumna 2014, Dr Norah Patten, International Space University, Dr Shane Bergin, UCD and Dr David Robert Grimes, DCU. The Awards Ceremony took place live at 2 pm on Saturday when the SciFest SFI STEM Champion 2020 was announced. Speakers at the Awards Ceremony included Ms Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education and Skills, Prof. Brian MacCraith, Former President of Dublin City University and Chair of the SciFest Board, Margie Mc Carthy, SFI and Timothy McGrath, SciFest SFI STEM Champion 2019.

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our speakers, the students, teachers, parents and mentors, the National Final judges, the regional coordinators, our partners and sponsors and last but not least our wonderful MC Philip Smyth.

Prof. William C Campbell

Prof. Aoife McLysaght Page 2

SCIFEST 2020 NATIONAL FINAL AWARD WINNERS SCIFEST SFI STEM CHAMPION 2020 YALE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION AWARD 2020 Student: Caoimhín O'Leary Project: An Image Analysis of Rehabilitating Patients' Exercises to Measure and Improve Recovery School: Ard Scoil na Mara, Tramore, Co. Waterford Teacher: Niamh Shannon TEACHER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD 2020 Teacher: Niamh Shannon School: Ard Scoil na Mara, Tramore, Co. Waterford SCIFEST SFI RUNNER-UP AWARD 2020 AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY AWARD 2020 Student: Conor Casey Project: AMSIMP: Using Machine Learning to Improve Numerical Weather Prediction School: Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, Co. Kerry Teacher: Sarah Abbott

Aoibheann Mangan

BROADCOM MASTERS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME AWARD 2020 Student: Eoghan Ó Fearáin Project: Beef or Leaf (An Rian Coise Charbóin a Bhaineann le hAistí Bhia Éagsúla) School: Coláiste Ailigh, Cnoc na Móna, Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhún na nGall Teacher: Siobhán Laighneach BERLIN LONG NIGHT OF SCIENCE AWARD 2020 Students: Finn Nankivell, Cian Glynn Project: Lost School: Stratford College, 1 Zion Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6 Teacher: Helen O'Kelly BOSTON SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL DEVICES GRAND AWARD 2020 Students: Dara Newsome, Conor Bradshaw, David Hughes Project: Specs - An Adapted Spectacle System for Dementia Patients School: Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Conor Casey

Teacher: Eimear Nolan

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL DEVICES RUNNER-UP AWARD 2020 AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AWARD 2020 Student: Ellen Woodward Project: ‘Inside Out’ – A Wearable Device that Externalises Internal Emotions School: Ursuline College Sligo, Finisklin Rd, Sligo Teacher: Anthony Carolan SPECSAVERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE GRAND AWARD 2020 Students: Molly Cunnane, Katie Hannelly Project: Our Farmers – ‘Deaf as Doornails?’ An Investigation into the Effect of Machine Noise on our Farmers’ Hearing School: Castlerea Community School, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon Teacher: Pauline Dervin

Ellen Woodward

SPECSAVERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE RUNNER-UP AWARD 2020 Students: Sean Moloney, Michael Ware Project: To Research the Challenges of Transitioning from Primary to Secondary School for Students with Autism School: St Brogan's College, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Co. Cork Teacher: Norma Sheahan Intel Technology Award 2020 Students: Dara Newsome, Conor Bradshaw, David Hughes Project: Specs - An Adapted Spectacle System for Dementia Patients School: Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry Teacher: Eimear Nolan

Dara Newsomwe Conor Bradshaw David Hughes

SCIFEST LIFE SCIENCES AWARD 2020 Student: Giulia Baratta Project: Toxicological Investigation of Pesticides Using Paramecium as a Model Organism School: St Andrew's College, Booterstown Ave, Blackrock, Co. Dublin Teacher: Hilary Rimby THEA AWARD 2020 Students: Alice Davoren, Emily Cullinan Project: The Effect of Greywater on Soil Nutrients and Earthworm Population School: Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare Teacher:John Sims ISTA AWARD 2020 Students: Erinn Leavy, Sophie McCardle Project: An Analysis of Physiological and Running Metrics in 3 km Cross Country Running in Comparison to Track and Treadmill School: St Vincent's Secondary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth Teacher: John White

Alice Davorin Emily Cullinan

SCIFEST SCIENTIST OF THE FUTURE AWARD 2020 Student: Aoibheann Mangan Project: Hospital Holly and Henry - A Mobile Trinal Interactive Solution to Eradicate Children's Fears of Medical Procedures School: Mount St Michael Secondary School, Convent of Mercy, Claremorris, Co. Mayo Teacher: Paula Campbell EXCELLENCE IN STEM AWARDS Each of the finalists has been sent an Excellence in STEM Award to mark their achievement in reaching the National Final of SciFest 2020.

Sean Moloney Michael Ware Page 3

SCIFEST 2020 NATIONAL FINAL

Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education

Speaking at the National Final Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education and Skills said: “We live in a rapidly changing world and we must respond by preparing our young people with the skills and knowledge to thrive in such an environment. It is really fantastic to see so many young people looking to future careers in STEM fields.

These subjects are crucial for equipping our young people with creativity, adaptability, problem-solving and critical thinking – skills which are so important for their future.

SciFest is an excellent initiative that supports and enhances these skills in our students. I am very impressed by the standard of projects displayed on the platform and the amount of work that students and, of course, teachers and parents have put into each and every one. I want to congratulate all the students, their families and mentors; the future of STEM in Ireland is clearly very bright. The standard was incredibly high, and I wish hearty congratulations to Caoimhín on his success.”

Aoibheann

Giulia Baratta

Erinn Leavy Sophie McCardle

Finn Nankivell Cian Glynn

Molly Cunnane Katie Hannelly

REGENERON ISEF 2021 The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) which takes place annually in America is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, involving some 1,800 students from over 80 countries competing for a prize fund totalling $5million. Each year since 2012 the SciFest overall winner/s have travelled with their teacher to America to represent Ireland and compete at this prestigious fair. This year the competition element of ISEF was cancelled due to COVID-19 but it will take place virtually in

2021. In the eight years in which SciFest has participated in Regeneron ISEF SciFest students have won a total of 12 major awards.

Caoimhín O'Leary, as SciFest SFI STEM Champion 2020, wil represent at Ellen Ireland Woodward Regeneron ISEF 2021. All of the projects at Ellen Woodward this year's National Final were of a very high standard so it was decided to send a second project and Conor Casey, as the SFI Runner-up, will also compete at Regeneron ISEF 2021.

BROADCOM MASTERS INTERNATIONAL 2021 The Broadcom MASTERS International is a companion programme to the domestic Broadcom MASTERS competition which takes place in America each year. The programme provides a unique opportunity for select middle school students from ISEF affiliated fairs around the world to participate in selected ISEF events, an outreach day, and additional specialized events. The 2021 programme will consist of 30 delegates representing 27 countries, regions, and territories, including two 2020 Broadcom MASTERS finalists and two local delegates from the US.

There are 423 science fairs from more than 80 countries, regions and territories affiliated to ISEF including SciFest so we are very honoured to be invited for the third year running to select a junior student to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS International 2021. We are delighted to announce that the winner of the SciFest 2020 Broadcom MASTERS International Award is Eoghan Ó Fearáin from Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny Co. Donegal.

Congratulations to Eoghan and to his teacher Siobhán Laighneach.

Eoghan Ó Fearáin Page 4

SCIFEST 2020 STEM OUTREACH AWARD The SciFest STEM Outreach Award is an opportunity for SciFest National Finalists to communicate their findings via a 2-minute online video. The videos are posted on the SciFest website to be voted on by the public. The video with the most votes wins The STEM Outreach Award and €300.

The SciFest STEM Outreach Award was introduced two years ago and has become a very popular part of the National Final with almost 60,000 votes being cast this year.

SCIFEST@SCHOOL 2020/2021 Since September a number of schools have hosted SciFest@School fairs and the number registering for the current academic year grows each day. The first fair took place on 4 November in Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane, Co. Cork.

Congratulations to St Paul's Waterford who celebrated their fifth SciFest@School during Science Week and qualified for a SciFest STEM School Award. Congratulations also to St Andrew's College who hosted their tenth SciFest@school fair. St Andrew's was also the first school to avail of the facility to have their top five SciFest@School projects judged by a SciFest judge via Zoom.

SciFest@School St Andrew's College

SCIFEST@SCHOOL 2020/2021 AWARDS For each SciFest@School SciFest provides up to five awards which, for suitable projects, may include: Award 1. SciFest Best Project Award - rosette plus €20 One4all token to each winner (maximum 3 per group) Award 2. SciFest Runner-up Best Project Award - rosette plus €15 One4all token to each winner (maximum 3 per group) Award 3. Society of Irish Foresters (SOIF) Award – rosette for each winner (maximum 3 per group) Award 4. AbbVie Young Innovator Award – rosette for each winner (maximum 3 per group) Award 5. Bristol-Myers Squibb Passion for STEM Award –rosette for each winner (maximum 3 per group)

SciFest@School Presentation SS, Ballyphehane

Speaking at the National Final Margie McCarthy, Head of Education & Public Engagement, Science Foundation Ireland said: “SciFest is a great event for promoting STEM among students in an inclusive and rigorous way. It is inspiring to see all the work put into each project and I wish to congratulate all the students as well as their families and friends. Ireland is a global leader in many aspects of STEM and if we wish to build on this success in the future, we must encourage a love of the field among our young people. It is great to see so many innovative projects on display this year, it gives us great hope for the future of STEM in Ireland and we would like to congratulate Caoimhín on his success today.”

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THE SCIFEST TEAM

SHEILA PORTER FOUNDER AND CEO

TIM REGAN

GEORGE PORTER CFO

CATHERINE TATTERSALL

HUGO ROWSOME PROJECT MANAGER

SEAN FOLEY

ANNE LYNCH

SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICERS

Contact Details:

More than 10,000 students participate in SciFest

Email: info@scifest.ie

each year making it the biggest second-level

Mobile: 0863796143

STEM fair programme in Ireland.

Website: www.scifest.ie

SciFest is free to enter at all levels.

Access to the SciFest National Final Platform will be available from 21 November for 90 days.

You are invited to visit the platform, view the finalists' projects and watch the presentations on playback at https://scifestfinal2020.ie.

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