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S c i Fe s t N a t i o n a l F i n a l S p e c i a l E d i t i o n
D e c e m be r 2 0 1 9
S CIFEST E ZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Pictures from the National Final 2
Sixth year student’s research into solving oceanic and freshwater dead zones wins SciFest 2019
SciFest 2019 National Final Award Winners
3
Timothy McGrath, a sixth-year student from
SciFest 2019 Special Awards
4
Killorglin, was named the overall winner of SciFest 2019 for his
Timothy McGrath’s Story
5
SciFest@School
6
research and development of a biofilter to combat oceanic and freshwa-
SciFest 2019 STEM Outreach
6
Judges at the National Final
7
Thank You
8
Broadcom MASTERS Award
2
Community College
ter dead zones. Timothy will go on to represent Ireland at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Anaheim, California next May. The SciFest 2019 National
More than 10,000
Final took place in the
students participated in
Marino Conference Centre in Dublin on 22 November.
SciFest 2019
The
fair
was
officially
opened by Richard Bruton The 2019 National Final
TD, Minister for Communi-
marks the culmination of
cation, Climate Action and
the 14th successful year
Environment . Timothy was
of the SciFest programme,
presented with the SciFest
a year which saw a record number of over 10,000
2019 SFI ISEF Award by Margie McCarthy, Head of Education and Public
students participating in
Engagement, Science Foundation Ireland. Timothy secured his place at the
local and regional SciFest
National Final after his victory at the SciFest regional final in IT Tralee.
STEM fairs across the country. Since launching in 2008, more than 70,000 students have participated
Through research Timothy realised that eutrophication, an enrichment of water by nutrient salts, which causes structural changes to the ecosystem,
in the competition,
turns huge areas of the ocean into dead zones and affects many countries as
representing an average
a result. Dead zones are low-oxygen areas in the world's oceans and large
year-on-year increase of
lakes, caused by excessive nutrient pollution from human activities. Timothy
almost 20% in
created a technically viable solution and built a structure that stored a halo-
participation.
phyte ecosystem that would reduce nutrient pollution, decreasing algal blooms and deoxygenation of ocean water and freshwater. Timothy was one of 77 students who qualified to exhibit 41 STEM projects at the National Final.
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V o l um e 1 1, N um be r 2
SCIFEST 2019 BROADCOM MASTERS AWARD Teachers’
national programme brings together young
Association) Award is presented to an
students from all over the world. During the
individual or group project in the junior
week they participate in specialized pro-
category at each of the 16 regional
gramming, fun and engaging hands-on
SciFest@College STEM fairs. From
science & engineering activities, and also
these award winning projects the pro-
attend activities at the International Science
jects that fit the participation criteria of
& Engineering Fair.
An
Speaking at the National Final the Minister for Communication, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton TD said, “Climate disruption is the biggest challenge facing this generation. It is fantastic to see so many young people engaging with the issue and looking at practical, creative solutions which could contribute to our response. This is my fifth year at the SciFest National Final and I am always struck by the passion and energy in the room. The projects here today show how science, technology, engineering and maths can be applied to real world problems, often in unexpected ways. SciFest is an excellent initiative that supports and enhances what we are trying to do at a government level, and I am very impressed by the standard of projects displayed here today and the amount of work that students and of course, teachers, parents and guardians have put in to each one.
I congratulate all the students, their families and mentors but in particular Timothy on his winning entry.”
ISTA
(Irish
Science
the Broadcom MASTERS programme are invited to compete at the SciFest National attend
Final for the the
opportunity to
Broadcom
MASTERS
International programme in America. This year four students
qualified to
compete. The award was won by Orna Collins from Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh. Orna will travel to Anaheim, California in May. The Broadcom MASTERS Inter-
PICTURES
Professor Brian McCraith, President DCU and Chair of the Board of SciFest CLG, Orna Collins and Sheila Porter., SciFest Founder and CEO
FROM THE SCIFEST 2019 NATIONAL FINAL R: Aishling Hardiman, Maria Dolan and Katie Curley, Ardscoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway L: Robert Brennan, Declan Delaney and Sean Brennan, Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
L: Sam Dunning, Coláiste an Chraoibhin, Co. Cork R: Natalia Talaga and Temisan King, Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee
L: Ellie Quinn and Bríd Madigan, St Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross, Co. Wexford R: Aaron Dinesh and Matthew O’Dwyer, The Institute of Education, Dublin 2
SciFest Ezine
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SCIFEST 2019 NATIONAL FINAL AWARD WINNERS Award
Students
School
Project Title
Teacher
College
SFI ISEF Award
Timothy McGrath Community College Killorglin, Killorglin, Co. Kerry
An R&D Study on Using a Nutrient Treatment Biofilter to Combat Oceanic and Freshwater Dead Zones which Harnesses the Intrinsic Potential of Halophyte Species
Marieke O'Connor
IT Tralee
Plastics with Potential – Toward a Sustainable Biodegradable
Ciara Ní Dhrisceoil
LIT Moylish
Brian Higgins
TU Dublin Blanchardstown
iScope - The Design and Development of an Enhanced Digital Stethoscope for Remote Auscultation
Donal Enright
IT Tralee
Specsavers Award Miriam Murphy
Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, An Investigation into the Childhood Obesity Crisis in Ireland - An Analysis of the Causes and RecommendaBlarney, Co. Cork tions for Prevention
Elaine Keane
CIT
Intel Technology Award
Alice Shaughnessy
Calasanctius College, Omnidirectional Magnetic Driving System Oranmore, Co. Galway
Christina Kenny
GMIT
Society for Science & the Public Award
Ronan Walsh
Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Broadcom Orna Collins MASTERS Award
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Meal Sior Anraí, Luimneach
Berlin Long Night Eva Connolly, of Science Award Ella Shanahan, Willemijn Bosschaert
Loreto Secondary Can We Effectively Make Biodegradable Clothes? An School Balbriggan, Investigation Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Boston Scientific Award
Oisín O'Sullivan Desmond College, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick
"Beat The Drought" - A Smart, Staged, Domestic Grey- Anne water, Eco-treatment System Providing a Viable, SusMolloy tainable Irrigation Water Supply to Combat Drought and Water Restrictions
I N S I D E Viktoryia S TO RY H EADLINE Mount Mercy College, Psychological and Dietary Aspects in Managing Sugar
Abbott Ireland Award
Kharoshankaya
Model Farm Road, Cork
THEA Award
Ruth Madden
ISTA Award
SciFest Scientist of the Future Award
AIT
Aaron O’Sullivan
CIT
Largy College, Analore The Microplastic Filter - A Small Solution to a Global Rd, Clones, Co. Mona- Problem ghan
Colette Smith
DkIT
Caomhán Budhlaeir, Illann Wall
Presentation Brothers College, Mardyke Walk, Cork
Does Every Cloud Have a Silver Lining?
Enda O'Regan
CIT
Aodhán Mc Guinness
Clongowes Wood College, Clane, Co. Kildare
Team Performance and the National Football League (NFL) Draft
Yvonne Nolan
DCU
Cravings
SciFest 2019 Elaine Treacy, Gaelcholáiste Seven Times Above the Limit! A Study into Aluminium Ciara Ní STEM NOutreach S I D E EvaTMcMahon, O R Y Luimnigh, E A DMeal L ISior N E Levels in Limerick Water Supply (Seacht n-Uaire thar an Dhrisceoil Award Clodagh Hannan Anraí, Luimneach Teorainn! Imsrúdú ar Leibhéal Alúmanam i Soláthar Uisce Luimnigh)
LIT Moylish
SciFest 2019 STEM Outreach Award Runnersup
TU Dublin Blanchardstown
I
S
H
Achrafe Boudal, Kishoge Community GOB Spoons: A Possible Solution to the Difficulties ExGiovanni LunCollege, Thomas Omer perienced by Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients as a Result ganga, Nikkel Oti Way, Lucan, of a Decline in Fine Motor Skills Co. Dublin
Kristina Troy
SciFest is affiliated to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and as a result receives a number of ISEF Regional Awards American Psycho- Viktoryia Khalogical Association roshankaya Award
Calasanctius College, Psychological and Dietary Aspects in Managing Sugar Oranmore, Co Galway Cravings
Aaron O’Sullivan
CIT
ASM Materials Education Foundation Award
Largy College, Analore The Microplastic Filter - A Small Solution to a Global Rd, Clones, Co Mona- Problem ghan
Colette Smith
DkIT
Ruth Madden
The Yale Science Ronan Walsh & Engineering Association Inc. Award
Colaiste Choilm, Tulla- Beat The Drought - A Smart, Staged, Domestic GreyAnne water, Eco-treatment System Providing a Viable, Susmore, Co. Offaly Molloy tainable Irrigation Water Supply to Combat Drought and Water Restrictions
AIT
SciFest Ezine
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BOSTON SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL DEVICES GRAND AWARD The SciFest 2019 Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award was this year won by Oisín O'Sullivan from Desmond College in Co. Limerick. There were two representatives from Boston Scientific on the judging panel, Michael Walsh and Meabh Holden and the award was presented by Michael Walsh. The award consisted of an engraved trophy and €500.
Speaking at the National Final
Margie McCarthy, Head of Education and Public Engagement, Science for Society Directorate, SFI said, Michael Walsh and Meabh Holden with Laura O’Sullivan, Mount Mercy College, Cork
Michael Walsh presenting the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award to Oisín O’Sullivan
SPECSAVERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE GRAND AWARD The Inagural Specsavers Making a Difference Grand Award was won by Miriam Murphy from Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Blarney. Specsavers was represented on the judging panel by Andrea Barrow and Seamus Breslin both from Specsavers. The award was presented by Seamus Breslin, Specsavers, Dawson Street and consisted of a trophy and an all expenses paid trip to the Big Bang in Birmingham in March.
Andrea Barrow presenting a Specsavers Excellence in STEM Award to Diarmuid Hayes , Coláiste Iognáid S.J., Galway
BERLIN LONG NIGHT OF SCIENCE AWARD
Margie McCarthy, SFI presenting the Berlin Long Night of Science Award to Eva Connolly, Ella Shanahan and Willemijn Bosschaert, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Seamus Breslin presenting the Specsavers Making a Difference Grand Award to Miriam Murphy, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Blarney
INTEL TECHNOLOGY AWARD
Dr Jennifer McKenna, Intel, presenting the Intel Technology Award to Alice Shaughnessy, Calasanctius College, Co. Galway
The Berlin Long Night of Science Award consists of a trophy and an all expenses paid trip to Berlin. The award is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
It is a great pleasure to attend the 12th SciFest National Final and experience how young people all over Ireland are engaging with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in such a positive way. 2019 has been a very successful year for SciFest and it is a great joy to see that this year is the largest National Final to date. Science Foundation Ireland is very proud to support SciFest. It is of the utmost importance that we encourage our young people to develop an interest in STEM, particularly outside the classroom. The young scientific minds of today will be the ground-breaking scientific leaders of tomorrow and I have no doubt that many of you in partaking today will go on to achieve great success in the future. For those of us here today, we know that SciFest isn’t just one day a year, today’s National Final is a culmination of a year’s worth of innovation, ingenuity, time and the support of your teachers and your families. We thank you all wholeheartedly for getting behind the students here today and enabling them to open their scientific minds. I wish to congratulate all those involved in the organisation of today’s event. The team at SciFest have an unwavering and passionate commitment to this event that is to be commended. I also wish to thank the many teachers, schools, Institutes of Technology, Universities and supporting organisations who help make this event a success. Congratulations most of all to the students presenting projects today. Your hard work has paid off, and each and every one of you deserves to be here. I wish the best of luck to everyone!
SciFest Ezine
TIMOTHY MCGRATH’S AMAZING JOURNEY NATIONAL FINAL
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TO THE
SCIFEST
Timothy McGrath, winner of the SFI ISEF Award at this year’s National Final is no stranger to SciFest. Timothy has competed in SciFest in each of his six years in the Community School Killorglin. The week before the National Final Timothy was asked to write a short piece about his six years involvement with SciFest. This is Timothy’s story:
‘My name is Timothy McGrath and I am a 6th year student in Killorglin Community College, County Kerry. Over the past 6 years of my education SciFest has played a crucial role in encouraging me to pursue STEM subjects and influencing my future career. It all started in my first year in secondary school. A friend and I had an increasing interest in technology and saw SciFest as an opportunity to put this interest into practice by solving real life problems. We entered a project into IT Tralee SciFest which was based on technology to help guide visually impaired / blind people around buildings. We were thrilled to win the Boston Scientific Medical devices Award at our regional SciFest and then be chosen to progress to the SciFest National Final. This journey allowed me to meet likeminded people and form new friendships as well as giving me a love for solving problems. I had caught the ‘bug’ and was already planning on a project for the coming year. In 2nd year I continued to work on helping blind people and developed an obstacle avoidance system. I was pleased to win the Intel award at IT Tralee SciFest that year for my work. In 3rd year I continued to progress work on my obstacle avoidance system so I could enter it as a fully finished system. As a result of my progress I won the Boston Scientific Medical devices Award and was chosen to progress to the SciFest National Final. In my Transition Year I developed a project on Genetic Engineering a microorganism to feed on Cholera bacteria to provide clean drinking water in 3rd world countries. I was delighted to win the Abbott Runner-up Award at my local SciFest and progress to the 2018 SciFest National Final. Just last year in 5th year I entered a project based on combatting Oceanic and Freshwater Deadzones using halophyte species. I was honoured to win the overall SFI Best Project Award at IT Tralee SciFest and get the chance to present my project at this year’s SciFest National Final. Overall my SciFest journey has been a once in a life time opportunity. So many doors have opened because of my participation in SciFest and I wouldn’t be where I am today only for that. It has transformed my confidence, allowed me to develop new skills and brought out my passion for STEM. I would recommend every student in the country to enter a project into SciFest as you will gain so much from the experience, which you would otherwise not have received from the classroom.’ Timothy was presented with a special recognition award at the SciFest National Final which consisted of a photo collage and a signed copy of Professor Luke O’Neill’s book, ‘The Great Irish Science Book’.
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SCIFEST@SCHOOL
SciFest Alumni At the National Final
Adam
Kelly
(ISEF
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE QUALIFIED THIS TERM FOR A SCIFEST STEM SCHOOL AWARD
The number of SciFest@School STEM Fairs taking place around the country continues to increase, with twenty-five taking place in the current term.
2019)
presenting his award winning project to this year’s finalists.
Resource materials to support the organisation of a SciFest@School fair are available in the resources section of the SciFest website, www.scifest.ie. In addition to the resource materials support from SciFest is also available in the form of advice on the organisation of a SciFest@School STEM fair, a teacher’s pack, certificates for participating students, a number of prizes for winning projects, 'freebies' and support on the day of the event.
Lanesboro Community College, Lanesboro, Co. Longford Creagh college, Gorey, Co. Wexford Our Lady’s School, Terenure, Dublin 6W Santa Sabina Dominican College, Sutton, Dublin 13
A SciFest@School can be held anytime throughout the school year. Participation in all levels of the SciFest programme is free. Adam speaking at the award ceremony.
Anne Lynch, SciFest presenting a SciFest STEM School Award to Michael Lyons, Deputy Principal, Lanesboro Community College
SCIFEST STEM OUTREACH AWARD 2019 Students competing in the SciFest
This competition was run for the first time in
2019 National Final were invited to
2018 and was so successful that it was de-
communicate their findings to the gen-
cided to repeat it again this year.
eral public via a 2 minute online video. Éabha Kenny presenting her
The videos were posted online for ten
Broadcom
All previous records were broken with
days during which the public were
over 41,700 votes cast, and 139 hours of video watched.
MASTERS
Award
winning project to this year’s
asked to vote for their favourite video.
finalists. SciFest
was
delighted
to
welcome back a number of former ISEF Award winners who served on the judging panel. These included: Simon
Bluett
Christopher
(ISEF
Carragher
2012), (ISEF
2014 and Aaron Hannon (ISEF 2017)
STEM Outreach Award winners, Elaine Treacy, Eva McMahon and Clodagh Hannan, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Luimneach
STEM Outreach Award Runners-up, Achrafe Boudal, Giovanni Lunganga and Nikkel Oti, Kishoge Community College, Lucan, Co. Dublin
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SciFest 2019 Finalists SciFest 2019 National Final-A special thank you to the judges SciFest 2019 National Judging Panels SciFest 2019 SFI ISEF Award: Mr Gerard Hughes (Chair), Project Manager, Sentinus Dr Pádraig Ó Murchú
Former Education Manager, Intel Ireland
Dr Deirdre Kilbane
SFI Research Fellow, Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG), WIT
Prof. Paul McCabe
School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD
Mr Jim Cooke
Teacher of Mathematics
Dr Jennifer McKenna
European Programme Manager, Intel Research and Development Ireland
Ms Michelle O’Flaherty
Quality/ Validation Consultant, Consultancy, Griffith College, Ireland
Dr Brian Lawless
Dublin City University (Physics)
Mr Christopher Carragher
Combilift, ISEF Award winner (Alumnus)
Dr Joe MacDonagh
Lecturer, TU Dublin Tallaght and Research Ethics board at St James’s Hospital and Tallaght Hospital
Mr Paul Hennessy
Customer Experience Director, Abbott Diagnostics
Prof. Patricia Maguire
UCD Institute for Discovery
Mr Declan Cahalane
Assistant Chief Inspector, Department of Education and Skills
Dr Fergus McAuliffe
Education and Public Engagement Manager at iCraig
Dr Andrew Hines
School of Computer Science, UCD
Mr Anthony Carty
Inspector, Department of Education and Skills
Dr Yvonne Kavanagh
Assistant Registrar, IT Carlow
Ms Rachel Harding
IRC PhD Scholar, TU Dublin City
Dr Theresa Tallon
CASTeL at DCU
Dr Anne-Marie Hogan
Manufacturing Science & Technology Manager API, External Manufacturing, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Dr Jean Wilson
Teaching Fellow, Part-time, School of Natural Sciences, TCD
Mr Daire Murphy
Raw Material Chemist at Oriflame Cosmetics
Dr Brian Smyth
Teacher of Chemistry
Boston Medical Devices Judging Panel: Ms Damienne Letmon (Chair), Teacher of Physics and PhD Researcher at CASTeL, DCU Ms Meabh Holden
Process Engineer 1, Boston Scientific
Mr Michael Walsh
Senior R&D Engineer, Boston Scientific
Specsavers Making a Difference Judging Panel: Ms Noreen McMorrow (Chair), Senior Inspector, Department of Education and Skills Ms Andrea Barrow
Graduate Recruitment Manager, Specsavers Ireland
Mr Simon Bluett
ISEF 2013, Electronic Engineering, TCD (Alumnus)
Broadcom MASTERS Judging Panel: Ms Catherine Tattersall (Chair), SciFest School Liaison Officer Ms Dorothy Fox Teacher of Biology Mr Aaron Hannon NUIG, ISEF Award winner (Alumnus)
A big thank you from all at SciFest to :
Contact Us e: info@scifest.ie
•
The 709 teachers and 10,000+ students who participated in SciFest 2019
m: 086 379 6143
•
The parents/guardians who supported the 10,000 students
w: www.scifest.ie
•
SciFest’s partners and sponsors
Please check the website
•
The 16 regional coordinators and their support teams at the 16 regional venues
regularly for updates:
•
The SciFest alumni who judge at various fairs and help out when necessary
www.scifest.ie
•
The 700+ judges who gave freely of their time and expertise to judge at school, regional and national STEM fairs
Closing date for receipt of
SciFest could not happen without you!
entries to SciFest@College
We look forward to working with you again in 2020
2019 is:
SciFest 2019 - A Look Back
Friday 6 March 2020
Be a part of the biggest second-level STEM fair programme in Ireland
Launch of SciFest 2019
SciFest@College SciFest@School
‘SciFest in achieving its mission to ‘provide an inclusive and accessible platform for students in Irish schools to explore the science, technology, engineering and maths disciplines in an investigative way and to present their findings to a wider audience, thus supporting the development of key skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and collaboration’.
SciFest@TCPID
SciFest@Broadcom SciFest@Long Night MASTERS, USA of Science, Berlin
External Evaluation Report Sinead Begley & Associates July 2019
SciFest
SciFest@Teen-Turn
Meeting of Regional Coordinators
SciFest 2019 National Final SciFest@Intel ISEF, USA
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
is supported by
The Institutes of Technology, TU Dublin, City, TU Dublin, Blanchardstown, TU Dublin, Tallaght, DCU, St Mary’s College, Derry