Congratulations to all the TY students who exhibited their projects in our second in-house SciFest@School in Holy Faith Clontarf, on Friday. SciFest is a national STEM fair programme for second-level students, encouraging a love of STEM and inquiry-based learning. The programme is funded primarily by Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific, EirGrid, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and the Department of Education. Students demonstrated their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and maths through their creative and innovative projects. The overall winner was “Investigating the impact of biodegradable products on soil quality” by Ella Wang and Yiming Xu. Runner up prize went to “How coaches affect female players” by Orlaith Benham, Áine O’Dwyer, and India Hughes.
The “EirGrid Cleaner Climate” rosette ans Student choice Award went to “Solar Oven vs Gas Oven” by Alison Hynes and Ellen McGowan. The runner up student choice award went to “Feeling good about your appearance affects your performance in sport” by Aoibheann Geraghty, Leah Forde, and Oriel Thompson. The “Mallinckrodt STEM” rosette went to “How to get rid of a body Sustainably” by Louise Gallogly, Eliza O’Reilly Doyle, and Sarah Jane Mac Dermot. The Scifest award went to “How does cosmetic treatments effect our health” by Issy Mc Govern, Zoe Whyms, and Orlaith Conlon. The Scifest 20th anniversary award went to “The effect of caffeine on physical vs mental performance” by Maia O’Regan and Lucy Smith.
A big thank you goes to 6th years BT Young Scientists 2024 rosette winner Phoenix Hickson-Pitt, and Sara Hanney, for judging alongside Scifest Judge Catherine Tattersall and teacher Ms Tyrell. Thank you also to Ms O’Brien for organizing the event, and to first and second year teachers who allowed their students come see the fair. Commenting on the success of the science fair Sheila Porter, Founder and CEO of SciFest added: “Since its nationwide launch in 2011, SciFest@School has grown remarkably. I am consistently impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the students. SciFest@School serves as a vibrant celebration of STEM subjects, encouraging students to extend beyond the confines of the classroom, apply their scientific knowledge, and engage in creative and investigative projects. The accomplishments of these students are truly inspiring, reflecting not only their own efforts but also the dedication and support provided by their teachers.”