SCIFEST EZINE February 2016
Volume 7, Number 3
“I am delighted to be here at the launch of SciFest 2016. As Ireland’s largest science competition for second level students, SciFest plays a vital role in encouraging and developing an interest in STEM among Irish students. Skills in science, technology, maths and engineering will be crucial in the future if Ireland wants to remain competitive and at the cutting edge of scientific development. I am
sure
that
participants
in
SciFest 2016 will go on to make impressive contributions to STEM, both in Ireland and abroad.”
Launch of SciFest 2016
Jan O’Sullivan TD, Minister for Education and Skills
SciFest announces a massive increase in numbers
SciFest 2016 Launch
and a new online entry facility for 2016 In This Issue
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ence, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects at a series of one day
Why Get Involved in SciFest?
2
science fairs. SciFest science fairs are held locally in schools, regionally in the 14
Scifest 2016—Online Entry
3
What the Students are Saying
3
Students: Is SciFest 2016 for You?
4
tion and Skills by Jan O’Sullivan, TD, Minister for Education and Skills. Present at
Special Awards
4
the launch were students from Fingal Community College, Swords, Co. Dublin
Resources
5
What the Teachers are Saying
5
SciFest@College 2016 Dates and Venues
6
Now in its ninth year as a national project, SciFest is an all-inclusive, free-toenter, all-island science competition where second-level students showcase sci-
Institutes of Technology, DCU and St Mary’s College, Derry. SciFest is funded primarily by Science Foundation Ireland, Intel and Boston Scientific. The winners from each regional science fair go on to compete at a national final in November. SciFest 2016 was officially launched with a photocall in the Department of Educa-
and their science teacher Claire Scanlon. More than 7200 students exhibited projects at SciFest 2015. The closing date for receipt of entry forms to SciFest@College 2016 is 11 March.
Speaking at the launch of the 2016 competition at the Department of Education and Skills, Marlborough Street, Dublin Sheila Porter, SciFest CEO said: “2015 was a hugely successful year for SciFest with a record number of students taking part. In total 7,200 students exhibited their projects in local and/or regional science fairs across the country. This year we intend to build on that success and have another record year. SciFest gives students an excellent opportunity to develop their interest in
STEM
and
inquiry-based
ap-
proaches to learning, while developing
Why get involved in SciFest?
their
creative
and
problem-
solving skills and learning to work in a team.”
SciFest aims to create a science fair experience that is inclusive, accessible and inspires excellence SciFest science fairs are open to all second-level students; they are locally based and there is no entry fee SciFest gives students of all abilities the opportunity to develop research skills and associated skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, presentation skills and teamwork
SciFest provides students with an opportunity to study the STEM subjects in an interesting, innovative and hands-on way SciFest helps students to grow in confidence and develop their communication skills by exhibiting their work in a small, local, student-friendly environment SciFest operates at 4 different levels
SciFest@School— local in-school science fairs
SciFest@College—16 regional science fairs hosted by the IoTs, DCU and St Mary’s College, Derry
SciFest@SFI Discover— National final held in Dublin each year
SciFest International—SciFest@Intel ISEF, SciFest@INESPO and SciFest@Berlin
SciFest@School science fairs raise the profile of science in a school and give all students an opportunity to present their STEM project to independent judges SciFest@College regional science fairs give students an opportunity to visit a third-level college, meet lecturers, and view the facilities and courses available SciFest is partnered with SFI’s Smart Futures programme which promotes STEM careers to second-level students SciFest facilitates a community of educators with similar goals and ideals SciFest supports the teaching of the STEM subjects in the second-level curriculum and provides online support for teachers at www.scifest.ie 2
NEW for 2016
SciFest is not just about winning but about encouragement and building confidence in the student and belief in their ability to do STEM What the students are saying: ‘The judging was interesting and helped to build on my communication and presentation skills.’ ‘I really enjoyed the judging as I got to share my experiences throughout the project and explain the benefits of what I did. I also enjoyed getting feedback from the judges on my project both good and not so good.’
Students can now enter SciFest@College Online Entry to SciFest@College 2016 is now open. Students can enter online or download a paper entry form. Online entry Teacher Registration
Teachers must register before students can enter projects.
This is a once-off process; it does not have to be repeated each year.
Please check the entry form before the student submits it; once submitted it cannot be recalled.
• Entry forms will not be forwarded to the relevant
‘It was so fun and the talks were really cool and just getting a chance to be there was great.’
regional venue until the teacher has logged on
‘What I like best about SciFest is working as a team with my friends and carrying out the actual experiment and finding out the results for our own interest as I was curious about our experiment and couldn't wait to find out what the results were.’
• The teacher can download a list of the projects
to his/her teacher portal and signed off on the project.
submitted from his/her school at any stage.
‘My project was a chemistry project, I learned so much chemistry in such a short period of time, and it was leaving -cert chemistry, it was a fun way of learning. I feel I got so much out of it and my knowledge of chemistry has rapidly increased and I didn’t even see it as a chore, more enjoyable, because of SciFest this year I’ve found a new love for a subject I would of never even considered before and I will be now taking chemistry for my Leaving Cert.‘ Taken from the Independent Evaluation of the SciFest Programme carried out by Sinéad Begley and Associates in 2015
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Students: Is SciFest 2016 for You? Students: Is SciFest 2016 for You?
Yes
No
Are you interested in space, chemistry, medical devices, maths, technology, biology, physics, …………….. and solving real world problems?
Are you a good communicator?
Have you an interesting hobby?
Are you concerned about global warming?
Have you an idea for an invention?
Do you like working in a team?
Do you like finding out things for yourself?
Would you like an opportunity to learn more about careers in STEM?
Would you like to spend a day in a third-level college?
If you have answered yes to any of the above
questions check out the SciFest website and reach for the stars.
Special Awards
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Resources
SciFest is not just about winning but about encouragement and building confidence in the student and belief in their ability to do STEM What the teachers are saying: ‘It has allowed me to foster a better relationship with my students through mentoring them on projects which in turn translates into a better teaching environment with more engaged students.’ ‘SciFest has opened my mind to the other side of the student and their potential.’ ‘Every skill the students need to master at school are dealt with during a science project - time management and deadline meeting being one of the most important ones which is transferable across all. It massively increases a student’s ability to critically evaluate a situation/ experiment or try to find logic in a curiosity.’ ‘Job satisfaction = more motivation = motivate students to inquire.’ ‘At the moment the science curriculum is very defined in what needs doing/ learned and completed. SciFest is a much more open scope approach to learning science. I hope that the new curriculum will allow students to perhaps submit some of the investigations they complete for SciFest as part of their assessment grade. That would be the best use of the change - to encourage and reward good investigation practice.’ Taken from the independent evaluation of the SciFest Programme carried out by Sinéad Begley and Associates in 2015
There are lots of downloadable support materials on the SciFest website, see SciFest STEM Fairs Toolkit Resources include: A ‘Science by Inquiry’ module suitable for Junior Category projects ‘A Science by Inquiry’ module suitable for Transition Year Project Ideas Start small—10 steps to a successful SciFest@School science fair Choosing an idea and getting started Impressing the judges Tips for exhibiting at SciFest Report book and presentation Sample rubrics SciFest@College—Teacher and Student Guidelines Student activities—crosswords, etc. PowerPoint presentations Videos Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award presentation SciFest@College 2016 entry forms and guidelines SciFest@School registration form
The website is also linked to the SciFest YouTube channel, SciFest Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. It is important to check the SciFest website regularly for updates.
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Discover Space Awards
Contact Us
At each of the 16 regional SciFest@College 2016 venues a
e: sheila.porter@scifest.ie
Discover Space Award will be presented to the project which
e: george.porter@scifest.ie
best uses Space as a theme in science, technology, engineering or maths. The award is sponsored by the European Space
m: 086 379 6143
Education Resource Office Ireland (ESERO Ireland).
w: www.scifest.ie
Resources for the Discover Space Award
Please check the website
Space education information and resources are available from www.esero.ie
regularly for updates
Sample project ideas with a space theme may be found on the SciFest website here Additional ideas may be found on the Blackrock Castle Observatory (BCO) website
Closing date for receipt of
SciFest is currently collaborating with BCO to produce additional space project examples.
entries to
A list of some of the best astronomy and space sites may be found here
SciFest@College 2016 is:
Resources for the PharmaChemical Ireland
Friday 11 March 2016
Chemistry Award and the RSC School Award Sample project ideas with a chemistry theme may be found on the SciFest website here There are also lots of ideas on the PharmaChemical Ireland and
Outlining the commitment from
the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) websites
Science Foundation Ireland to its continuing support of
REMEMBER TO CHECK THE SCIFEST WEBSITE REGULARLY FOR UPDATES
SciFest, Prof. Mark Ferguson, Director General, Science Foun-
Dates and venues for SciFest@College 2016
dation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government
DIT
21-Apr
IT Blanchardstown
04-May
Cork IT
22-Apr
IT Tralee
05-May
Limerick IT
27 Apr
DCU
06-May
Waterford IT
27-Apr
IT Tallaght
10-May
Athlone IT
27-Apr
IT Sligo
TBC
IT Carlow
28-Apr
Galway-Mayo IT
12 May
LIT Thurles
TBC
Letterkenny IT
TBC
Dundalk IT
04-May
SciFest@NorthWest (NI)
TBC
Institutes of Technology, DCU and St Mary’s College, Derry
said:
“Science Foundation Ireland is happy to support initiatives like SciFest as science fairs can be one of the best learning experiences a student can get. Not only do they promote inquirybased learning, they also help to develop a good base level of science literacy in all who participate. Better understanding and skills in this area make the fruit of a career in STEM more obvious to students which will benefit Ireland in terms of skills in the years to come. Investment in SciFest is a ‘win win.” January 2016
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