Volume 9, Number 3, February 2018
SciFest 2018 is Officially Launched
Inside this issue: 50,000 Students Participated in 2 SciFest in the First 10 Years How SciFest Works
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Encourage Students to Think About Project Ideas Over Midterm
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Help is Available on the SciFest Website
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SciFest@School Roll of Honour 2018
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Frank O’Meara-Haslam (SciFest@AIT 2010), Conor Foy (Intel ISEF 2014), Minister Richard Bruton TD and Caolann Brady (Intel ISEF 2017)
The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, called on secondlevel students across the island of Ireland to put their skills in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to the test as he launched SciFest 2018 in Dublin on 31 January.
Visit of Doctoral Students From 5 USC 2018 SciFest@College 2018 Dates and Venues
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From Our Photo Album
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SciFest 2018 Sponsors
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Contact Details
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Speaking at the launch in the Department of Education and Skills Minister Bruton said
“I’m delighted to launch this year’s SciFest and I’d like to congratulate the team on the
10 year anniversary of the programme. I’m passionate about ensuring our young people are given the opportunity to develop an interest and a passion for the STEM subjects and our recently launched STEM strategy emphasizes the Government’s commitment in this area. Problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking and adaptability are just some of the key skills that students develop in learning the STEM subjects – these skills are crucial in preparing our children to flourish in a modern society. I especially welcome and encourage outside of school initiatives such as SciFest and I’m really looking forward to seeing this year’s projects.” SciFest is the largest and most inclusive science fair initiative on the island of Ireland. Since launching in 2008 over 50,000 students have participated in the competition, which represents an average year-on-year increase of 23% in participation. SciFest is funded primarily by Science Foundation Ireland, Boston Scientific and Intel Ireland.
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SciFest Ezine
50,000 Students Participated in SciFest in the First 10 Years! SciFest aims to give students of all abilities the opportunity to develop research, problem solving, critical thinking and presentation skills. Being locally and regionally based, open to all and free-to-enter it is both uniquely diverse and inclusive.
Conor Foy (Intel ISEF 2014), Margie McCarthy (Science Foundation Ireland), Christopher Carragher (Intel ISEF 2015), Caolann Brady (Intel ISEF 2017) and Sheila Porter (SciFest)
Free Entry to all Four Levels of SciFest Speaking at the launch of SciFest 2018 at the Department of Education and Skills in Dublin, Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder
SciFest International SciFest National Final
SciFest@School
How SciFest Works
“2018 marks 10 years since
SciFest@College
In SciFest, second-level students
showcase STEM projects at a series of one-day science fairs held locally in schools and regionally in the 14 Institutes of Technology, DCU and St Mary’s College, Derry. The winners from each regional science fair go on to compete at a national final in Dublin in November. The winner(s) of the SciFest National Final receives a trophy and represents Ireland at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the USA. For more information visit www.scifest.ie
and CEO said:
SciFest was first launched. In 2008, I could not have imagined how much SciFest would grow, and how successful it would become. I am delighted to be here at the launch of SciFest 2018 and I want to encourage all second-level students with an interest in STEM to get involved and experience the excitement of being part of the SciFest programme. Last year over 10,000 students participated across the country and I am sure this year will be even more successful.”
Volume 9, Number 3, February 2018
Page 3
Encourage Students to Think About Project Ideas Over Midterm! Deciding on an idea is often the hardest part of doing a
people with memory loss.
project. Students worry that it has to be something that
Conor Foy, runner-up at the SciFest 2013 national final
has never been done before. They spend weeks trying to
and fourth place and special award winner at Intel ISEF
think of something completely original and often when
2014 in Los Angeles, based his project on his passion for
they can’t they despair and give up.
rowing. Conor’s project focussed on developing a system
The best projects are always the ones that the students
that can measure, display, transmit and record the timing
come up with themselves. If it’s something they are pas-
difference between, and the force exerted by, a crew of
sionate about there is no limit to what they can achieve. I
rowers.
have seen evidence of this over the years both as a
Last year’s SciFest overall winner was Aaron Hannon,
teacher and as a SciFest judge.
from St Muredach’s College, Ballina, for his project on a
Caolann Brady, overall winner of SciFest 2016 and sec-
shaving device for people with limited hand dexterity.
ond place award winner at Intel ISEF 2017 in Los Ange-
Again it was something that was based on real life experi-
les, suffers from asthma. Her project focussed on the nat-
ence. Aaron will represent Ireland at the Intel International
ural treatment of asthma through humming and breathing
Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2018 in Pittsburgh,
techniques.
Pennsylvania in May.
Christopher Carragher, overall winner of SciFest 2014
Students wishing to follow in Caolann, Christopher, Con-
and second place award winner at Intel ISEF 2015 in
nor and Aaron’s footsteps can log on to the SciFest web-
Pittsburgh, was concerned about an elderly relative who
site (www.scifest.ie) and enter online. Completed entries
was exhibiting signs of short term memory loss. As a re-
must be submitted by Friday 9 March 2018 or Friday 11,
sult he set about designing an automated system to aid
May 2018 in the case of St Mary's College, Derry. SciFest National Final Abstracts Finalists’ abstracts for the years 2011—2017 can be found on the SciFest website at the following
link Aaron Hannon at the SciFest 2017 National final with Sarah Sexton, Intel Ireland and Dr Ruth Freeman, Science Foundation Irel and
Help is Available on the SciFest Website (www.scifest.ie) There are lots of resources on the website to support students . These can be found in the SciFest STEM Fairs Toolkit and include:
• A TY Science by Inquiry
• A PowerPoint presentation to
• Report book and presenta-
explain what is meant by a medical device (by Boston Scientific)
• A PowerPoint presentation on sustainable energy projects
module and a Beginner’s Guide to Doing a SciFest Project
• Choosing an idea for a project and getting started tion
• Project Ideas, Impressing the Judges and Tips for Exhibiting at SciFest
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SciFest Ezine
SciFest@School School Meánscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford Castlepollard Community College, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath Blessington Community College, Co. Wicklow St Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly Newpark Comprehensive School, (Fair 1), Blackrock, Co. Dublin Newpark Comprehensive School, (Fair 2), Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Date 23/01/2018 24/01/2018 25/01/2018 26/01/2018 29/01/2018 31/01/2018
North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow
31/01/2018
The Teresian School, Stillorgan Rd, Dublin 4 Presentation Brother College, Mardyke, Cork St Raphaela's Secondary School, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin Blackrock College, Blackrock, Co. Dublin St Leo's College, Dublin Road, Carlow Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow Coláiste Pobail Setanta, Clonee, Dublin 15 Kishoge Community College, Lucan, Co. Dublin Scoil Mhuire, Convent of Mercy, Trim, Co. Meath Rathdown School, Glenageary, Co. Dublin Santa Sabina Dominican College, Sutton, Dublin 13 Curragh Post Primary, Co. Kildare Avondale Community College, Co. Wicklow Carrigallen Vocational School, Clooncorick, Co. Leitrim Borris Vocational School, Borris, Co. Carlow Castleknock College, Castleknock, Dublin 15 Loreto Community School, Milford, Co. Donegal Marist College, Athlone, Co. Westmeath Coláiste Bhréanainn, Cill Airne, Co Chiarraí St Wolstan's Community School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Our Lady's Bower, Athlone, Co. Westmeath Tullamore College, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Co. Wicklow Stratford College (Fair 2), Rathgar, Dublin 6 Heywood Community School, Ballinakill, Co. Laois Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 New Court School, Bray, Co. Wicklow Oaklands Community College, Edenderry, Co. Offaly The Donahies Community School, Dublin 13 Jesus and Mary College, Goatstown, Dublin 14 St Mary's Holy Faith Secondary School, Killester, Dublin 5 Clonkeen College, Deansgrange, Co. Dublin
01/02/2018 05/02/2018 07/02/2018 20/02/2018 28/02/2018 21/02/2018 21/02/2018 22/02/2018 22/02/2018 22/02/2018 23/02/2018 23/02/2018 26/02/2018 27/02/2018 28/02/2018 28/02/2018 28/02/2018 01/03/2018 01/03/2018 02/03/2018 02/03/2018 02/03/2018 05/03/2018 06/03/2018 07/03/2018 09/03/2018 13/03/2018 13/03/2018 14/03/2018 16/03/2018 23/03/2018 11/05/2018
SciFest@School 2018 Roll of Honour The first SciFest@School of 2018 took place in Meánscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford on 21 January. The fair was organised by science teacher, Elaine Nic Réamoinn for her TY students. A wide range of projects were on display and the judges had difficulty selecting winners and projects to go forward to the regional SciFest@College STEM fair. In total seven SciFest@School fairs took place in January and seventeen have registered so far for the month of February. Looks like its going to be a busy month! Note that you can host a SciFest@School STEM fair anytime throughout the school year. Just decide on a date and fill out a registration form
SciFest@School at St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly and Castlepollard Community College, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Volume 9, Number 3, February 2018
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Second Cohort of Doctoral Students from USC to Visit Ireland In April 2016, a team of sixteen doctoral students from the University of Southern California (USC) visited Ireland to carry out research on how programmes such as SciFest influence the uptake of STEM-related courses in senior cycle and the development of 21st-century skills. Led by Dr. Michael Escalante, Rossier School of Education Professor of Clinical Education, the group of research students represented large and small urban school districts in California where they served as either superintendents or assistant superintendents. During their ten-day stay they visited eighteen schools, SciFest@CIT and a number of MNCs. The trip was a resounding success and we got lots of positive feedback from the schools they visited e.g. http://lucancc.ie/?p=2487 . Dr Escalante attended a shoptalk given by Sheila Porter, Founder and CEO of SciFest at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles in May 2014. He was so impressed with the programme that he decided to bring his students to Ireland the following year. They had carried out similar research in Costa Rica in previous years. A second cohort of thirteen students and Dr Escalante plan
Meeting the Lord Mayor od Dublin at the Mansion House in 2016
In April. They will visit thirteen schools that are actively involved in SciFest from 16 – 19 April, to talk with, observe, and survey willing students, teachers and principals. They will work in pairs and each pair will visit two schools. We are currently contacting schools and to ask if they would be willing to participate in this valuable research.
to repeat the success of 2016 and will be visiting Ireland
Graduation Day at the University of Southern California
Visiting Kishoge Community College
Congratulating SciFest on reaching its ten-year anniversary, Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Strategy and Communications at Science Foundation Ireland said: “SciFest is an excellent initiative that really puts into practice Science Foundation Ireland's aim to grow awareness and
knowledge of STEM among young people in Ireland. We are delighted to support this nationwide education initiative though our SFI Discover Programme, which is working to make science accessible to all and highlights the importance of scientific enquiry. It is inspiring to see how SciFest has grown over the past ten years and I am sure that 2018 will be another hugely successful year."
Dates and venues for SciFest@College 2018 SciFest@College 2018
Contact Us e: info@scifest.ie m: 086 379 6143 w: www.scifest.ie
DIT
13 Apr
IT Blanchardstown
2 May
Cork IT
20 Apr
Dundalk IT
2 May
DCU
24 Apr
Galway-Mayo IT
3 May
Athlone IT
25 Apr
IT Tallaght
4 May
IT Carlow
25 Apr
IT Sligo
9 May
Limerick IT
26 Apr
IT Tralee
9 May
LIT Thurles
1 May
Letterkenny IT
11 May
Waterford IT
1 May
SciFest@NorthWest (NI)
8 June
SciFest@School Meánscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Please check the website regularly for updates Closing date for receipt of entries to SciFest@College 2018 is: Friday 9 March 2018 (except in the case of SciFest@NorthWest (NI) St Mary's College, Derry, where the entry date is Friday 11 May
Visit the SciFest stand at the ISTA Annual Conference 2018 in Athlone IT 23-25 March
From Our Photo Album
SciFest@School Wilson’s Hospital School, Co. Westmeath Award winning students, SciFest @School Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, Youghal, Co. Cork
Smart Futures
will partner with SciFest again this year to provide Smart Futures Talks for students attending regional SciFest@College 2018 STEM fairs
SciFest
is supported by The Institutes of Technology, DCU and St Mary’s College, Derry