SCIFEST EZINE
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ciFest 2025 is Officially Launched
SciFest 2025 was officially launched on 29 January with a call for entrants to the 16 SciFest@College regional fairs, which will take placealloverIrelandinAprilandMay Thetheme for the 2025 programme is ‘STEM is for All’ and completedentryformstoSciFest@College2025 mustbesubmittedby12March
The event consisted of a photocall at Explorium National Sport and Science Centre Special thankstoteacherNicoleGeisselfrom Firhouse
ETSS and to her seven wonderful students, Sarah, Isabelle, Cathal, Saran, Teagan, Igor and Mia, to our partners, Catherine Daly, from EirGrid Group and Sarah Sexton from Intel Corporation and to Explorium and Dr Ailís O'Carroll for their invaluable support in making the launch a success.
S ciFest 2024
A L k B k
SciFest@School 2024
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Galway
S ciFest@School 2024/2025
15,000+
Students participated (academic year 2023/24)
165 STEM fairs (academic year 2023/24)
Up to 60% female participation
300+ Schools involved
29 Counties represented
700+ Volunteer Judges
7 International Awards
SciFest@School is one of the best events I've organised for our students They were so engaged and eager it was heartwarming to see the passion they had SinéadKelly StOliver’aCommunityCollege Co Louth
Over 120 in-house SciFest@School STEM fairs have been registered for this academic year so far, showcasing the growing interest in SciFest among schools across the island of Ireland. See the fully updated list of SciFest@School fairs here, and stay tuned for more additionsasnewfairsareregisteredthroughouttheacademicyear ToregisterforaSciFest@Schoolfairclickhere
Teachers are reminded to encourage their students to visit the SciFest website www.scifest.ie to check out the resources that are available.Theseinclude: a ‘GuidetoDoingaSciFestProject’ ,a ‘STEMbyInquiryTYModule’ abookletofProjectIdeas,ideasfromEirGridtosupport theEirGrid CleanerClimateAwardandlotsmore.
SciFest@ School 2025 Awards and Resources
SciFest@School 2025, Kilkenny City Vocational School - Mallinckrodt STEM Excellence Award winner
SciFest@School 2025, The Teresian School, Dublin - EirGrid Cleaner Climate Award winners
SciFest@School 2025, St Mary’s Secondary School, Co Offaly
Aswetravelaroundthecountry,weseelotsoffantasticphysicsprojectsthatareperfectforfirstand second-year students These projects are safe, engaging, and provide plenty of opportunities for measuringandcollectingdata
One topic that seems particularly popular at the moment is friction This area of study has endless possibilitiesforexploration,andonesimpleyeteffectivewaytoinvestigateitisbyusingarampand toycars
Herearejustafewideasjuniorstudentscouldexplore:
�� SurfaceMaterials–Howdoeschangingthematerialontheramp(eg,smoothwood,sandpaper, carpet,plastic,oil,water)affectthespeedordistancetraveledbythecar?
�� AngleofIncline–Howdoesadjustingtheheightorangleoftherampimpactthetimeittakesfor thecartoreachthebottom?
⚖ MassoftheCar–Doesaddingextraweighttothecar(e.g.,smallcoinsormodellingclay)change howitmovesdowntheramp?
�� FrictionBrakes–Whathappensifyouadddifferentmaterialstothewheelsofthecartoincrease ordecreasefriction?
�� StoppingDistance–Howdoesthesurfaceatthebottomoftherampaffecthowfarthecartravels onceitleavestheramp?
Thistypeofinvestigationallowsstudentstodeveloptheirscientificthinkingandskillsandisfuntodo. Itcanevenbedoneathome Itaddressesthefollowingskills:
Hypothesising:Whatwillhappenwhendifferentsurfacesaretested?
CarryingOutaFairTest:Identifyingvariables,repreatingandcalculatingaverages
MeasuringandCollectingData:Usingstopwatches,rulers,etc
GraphingandAnalysingResults:Comparinghowdifferentsurfacesaffectspeedanddistance CriticalThinking:Whydosomesurfacesslowthecardownmorethanothers?
SciFest is amazing Without the program, I don't think we could have offered such a great experience for our students
Teacher’sComment SciFest@SchoolEvaluation
I am so grateful for the many opportunities SciFest has granted me over the years It has brought me on so much as a person and enabled me to do things I never thought I would be able to achieve If you ’ re considering entering SciFest I highly recommend doing so!
Student’sComment SciFest2024
S ciFest@College 2025
The 16 regional SciFest@College fairs take place across the months of April and May, with selected winners going on to compete at the SciFest National Final in November. Here, they will have the opportunity to compete for the title of SciFest
STEM Champion 2025 and go on to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in the United States next year
There are a range of special awards available to win at each regional venue fair including the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award, the EirGrid Cleaner Climate Award, the Intel Technology Award and the Mallinckrodt STEM Excellence Award, and nine other awards across the STEM subjects
Project entries for SciFest@College are accepted across a range of scientific disciplines including physical and life sciences and technology Contact details, venues and dates may be viewed here.
Students wishing to participate in SciFest@College 2025 should log on to the SciFest website (www.scifest.ie) and enter online. Completed entry forms must be submitted by 12 March 2025.
Speaking at the launch of SciFest 2025, ahead of the competition’s 20th year, Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO said:
‘SciFest is back for 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited. I would urge all students to get involved and enter, no matter your background or circumstance, to explore the wonderful world of STEM and all it has to offer. Previous winners of the competition are thriving and have gone on to achieve incredible things, from launching their own start-ups to studying at prestigious institutions like Oxford University. SciFest opens the door to an array of opportunities.
As we plan for our 20-year celebrations, we look forward to an exciting year ahead in which the competition will grow to even greater heights. I want to take a moment to thank our sponsors for their continued support, without which none of this would be possible. We can’t wait to see the fantastic and innovative projects that lie ahead, so don’t miss out! Sign up today and be part of this exciting journey.’
SciFest STEM Champion 2024, Maura Moore-McCune from The King’s Hospital School will be heading to Columbus, Ohio in May to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
SciFest@College 2024 ATU Donegal
SciFest@College 2024 MTU Cork
S cifest Alumni News
It's a challenge to keep up with the incredible achievements of our alumni, many of whom go on to accomplish remarkable things Below is a selection of successes from those who have joined our SciFest Alumni Network on LinkedIn
Wishing Jack Shannon a safe journey as he heads to Switzerland to take part in the International Swiss Talent Forum (ISTF) from 18–22 February This amazing opportunity comes as a result of Jack winning the ISTF Award at EUCYS 2024 in Poland last September Best of luck, Jack!
Congratulations to Rayaa Onog on being selected as a Yale Young Global Scholars Ambassador. Wishing her every success in this prestigious role.
Congratulations to Leah Newman, past pupil of St Oliver's Community College, on being awarded a Trinity College Entrance Exhibition Award Leah was also a recipient of a Naughton Scholarship Wishing her continued success in her academic journey
Congratulations to Fatima Karimi, past pupil of Tullamore College, on being awarded a Trinity College Entrance Exhibition Award We wish Fatima continued success going forward
Congratulations to Aaron Hannon, SciFest STEM Champion 2017, Intel ISEF finalist and First-place Category Award winner 2018, and Co-Founder of Luminate Medical Aaron recently announced a further $2 5m fundraise, and that Steven Pacelli has been appointed the new Chairperson of the Board Also, Luminate Medical are to start their first US clinical trial for their Lily product
Congratulations to Timothy McGrath, SciFest STEM Champion 2019 who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree, specialising in Software Entrepreneurship, from University College Cork Timothy is currently employed as a Software QA Engineer with Motorola Solutions.
Congratulations to Caolann Brady, SciFest STEM Champion 2016, Intel ISEF finalist and Second-place Category Award winner 2017 Caolann went on to earn a First Class Honours degree in Molecular Medicine from Trinity College Dublin and a DPhil in Clinical Medicine from the University of Oxford, Caolann is now pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBCh) at Oxford. We wish her every success in this next stage of her remarkable journey.
If you are a past SciFest participant and would like to stay connected, share your achievements, and network with fellow alumni, we invite you to join the SciFest Alumni Network on LinkedIn It's a great way to celebrate success, inspire future generations, and stay engaged with the SciFest community Contact Sheila Porter, SciFest on LinkedIn here
