e n i z E t s e F i c S www.scifest.ie
Volume 4, Number 4
February 2013
Launch of SciFest 2013 by Minister Sean Sherlock, TD SciFest 2013 was officially launched by Min-
Inside this issue:
ister Seán Sherlock, TD, in Davis College, Mallow on Monday 28 January. The new
New SciFest Website 2
SciFest website was also launched on the same occasion. The launch was preceded in
Long Night of Science 2012 by Claire Keaveney Jimenez
2
the morning by a photoshoot with the Minister in one of the college labs. The launch itself was attended by over 30 people includ-
From problem state- 3 ment to presentation
ing representatives from industry, a number
SciFest 2013 exhibition dates and venues
4
ers. A number of students also attended
The Sponsors
4
A Good Project Guide 4 Special Awards
4
of the ITs, NCCA, NCE-MSTL and local teach-
Minister Sean Sherlock with students from Davis College, Mallow
with their SciFest projects. The audience was
of science is crucial if we are to be guaran-
welcomed by the Deputy Principal of Davis
teed a steady ‘pipeline’ of young people who
College and there were short presentations
choose to study STEM disciplines – this will
on behalf of SFI/DSE, Intel and SciFest. The
be vital if we are to become a true knowl-
formal proceedings were followed by light
edge economy. SciFest gives students the
refreshments and an opportunity to view
opportunity to put their knowledge of sci-
the students’ projects and network.
ence to the test and present it in a fun and
Speaking at the launch Minister Sherlock said ‘ : “The Government’s Action Plan for FACT
Jobs stresses the importance of STEM in pro-
227 schools participated in SciFest 2012
viding the skills necessary to create high quality jobs for the economy. The promotion
creative way, it promotes the learning of science and enables students to demonstrate their knowledge and passion for science on a public platform, thus facilitating recognition from their peers.”
Visit the new-look SciFest website www.scifest.ie Closing date for receipt of entries to SciFest 2013 is
8 March Download an entry form and guidelines today
Page 2
SciFest Ezine
New SciFest Website—www.scifest.ie The new website was completed
Exhibition Dates and Contact details, Entry
It is intended to continue to add
and content from the old site up-
Guidelines and Entry Forms can now all be
content to the site as resources
loaded in the week preceding the
downloaded from the website. Also available
allow. The next phase of the devel-
launch on 28 January. The website
are a number of useful support materials such
opment of the site will be the inclu-
is based on the Drupal CMS which is
as a 32 page module suitable for TY, ’Science
sion of a facility for students to
user-friendly and has good potential
by Inquiry’ - a step-by-step guide to classroom
enter the SciFest@College fairs
for expansion. The site includes a
research and doing a project, worksheets, pro-
online. If finance can be made avail-
search facility, a Flickr account and
ject ideas, lists of useful websites, books, etc.
able it is hoped that this facility will be in place in time for entry to
live Facebook and Twitter feeds. Like SciFest on Facebook
The website will be continually updated, both directly and through Twitter and Facebook.
Follow SciFest on Twitter
SciFest 2014.
Watch SciFest on YouTube
Check out the website today.
Long Night of Science 2012 by Claire Keaveney Jimenez By Claire Keaveney-Jimenez , Scoil Mhuire, Sidney Place, Wellington Road, Cork On arrival we were warmly greeted at the airport by Sarah McGrath, the First Secretary at the Irish Embassy in Berlin, invited to lunch and then taken on a tour of the Embassy. On the second day I visited the university where I was shown around by PhD researcher, Amelie Biermann. I learned about photoluminescence, Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). I was given the opportunity to talk about my project and received some very useful advice. However, the highlight was definitely getting a chance to see the new high-tech Transmission Electron Microscope at the UniverClaire with Professor Steinback,
Long Night of Science
sity. I saw gold foil at an atomic level. It really was amazing. Seeing the individual atoms and observing how they move about really brought everything I had learned in my science books in Ireland to life. On Saturday, Sarah McGrath arranged for me to meet with Robert Shorten and his
The Long Night of Science is an an-
wife, Jana Haase, who are both scientists working between Ireland and Germany. It
nual event which is held each year in
was great to hear both their views on science in the two countries and also about
Berlin and Potsdam. From 5 p.m.
their work. We also discussed my project and Robert told me about a group he had
until 1 a.m., teaching and research
worked with who harnessed power from rucksacks hitting off your back when walk-
facilities open their doors to the
ing. He didn’t know whether they used piezo like me but he said he would find out
public.
m
As Best Project Award winner at
An important part of the trip was an invite from Professor Steinbach (President of
SciFest@CIT 2012 Claire was invited
the TU Berlin) to join the VIP tour at the University as part of TU Berlin’s ‘Lange
by the Irish Embassy in Berlin to at-
Nacht
tend the celebrations.
o
r
e
der
a
n
Wissenschaft’
d
e
(Long
-
Night
m
a
of
i
l
Science)
m
e
.
celebrations.
Volume 4, Number 4
Page 3
The tour began at six and after Profes-
neers to develop and test a new type of
sor Steinbach kindly welcomed and in-
boat that clears up oil spills and a new
troduced me, we watched a very enter-
system to locate and rescue people who
taining chemistry demonstration about
fall overboard. The tour’s next stop was
light and colour, which caught the at-
a talk about acoustics and noise re-
tention of young people and adults
search for the modern city. This is very
alike. After this, we were brought to
topical in Berlin as the new airport that
what were the old GDR dockyards and
has just been built in the city has led to
creating an ideal sample city on the site
saw how the space is being used today
discussion of many controversial issues.
that could be expanded in the future.
by the University’s scientists and engi-
For the final part of the tour we were
We learned that new master’s degree
brought to a former gas storage site
courses such as energy-efficient con-
where we learned of the University’s
struction and operation of buildings,
exciting plans for the “City of Tomor-
energy-efficient urban transport sys-
row”. We heard of the hopes to create
tems and urban supply infrastructures
a ”Reality laboratory” on the site where
were being introduced at the university.
the buildings would be highly energy
After a thoroughly interesting and fasci-
efficient and the principles of sustain-
nating night, we headed back to the
ability, e-Mobility and smart cities
hotel inspired by science’s plans for our
would be key. The vision is to start by
future.
‘Seeing the individual atoms and observing how they move about really brought everything I had learned in my science books in Ireland to life.’ Claire Keaveney-Jimenez
From problem statement to presentation
SciFest Contact details: e: sheila.porter@scifest.ie e: george.porter@scifest.ie m: 086 379 6143 w: www.scifest.ie
SciFest 2013 Exhi bition Dates IT/Venue Exhibition Date DIT 22 March IT Tralee 12 April CIT 19 April LIT 1 May WIT 1 May AIT 1 May IT Carlow 2 May IT Sligo 3 May DkIT 8 May ITT 8 May LyIT 10 May IT Blanchardsto wn 14 May GMIT 16 May LIT Tipperary TBD SciFest North-W est, University of Ulster-Magee TBD Campus
Sponsored by the people who care about STEM education
A good project guide 1. Choosing an idea
3. Getting organised
Talk to your parents, your teacher, your friends
Make out a timetable
Visit the school library
Set up a shared folder to share information
Check out the Internet for project ideas (www.scifest.ie, www.sciencebuddies.com)
If it’s a group project arrange times when the team can meet e.g. Dropbox www.dropbox.com
Watch the news and read the newspapers Have you a hobby? Is there a particular area of science you are interested in?
4. A Fair Test
2. Is the idea workable?
Have you researched the idea as much as possible?
There are SPECIAL AWARDS for some topics
As a result of your investigations can you collect data?
Are you good at maths? Do you like solving problems? Is there something you would like to invent?
Can you carry out tests or investigations to support your idea?
Only change the factor you are investigating Keep all other factors constant Have a control Repeat the experiment a number of times Be prepared to change your approach when necessary
e.g. Chem
istry
ation Communic ls il sk
Have you access to the chemicals or equipment you need? Is your proposed investigation safe? Is there someone (an expert) that can give you advice on your chosen topic?
Maths
Susta inab Energ le y
Spa
ce