From Moate to Berlin: My Unforgettable SciFest Journey of STEM, History, and Culture
Fionn Campbell
Moate Community School, Co Westmeath
SciFest National Final 2024 Berlin Long Night of Science Award Winner
June 2025
As part of my prize for winning the Berlin Long Night of Science Award at the 2024 SciFest National Final, I had the amazing opportunity to visit Berlin with my science teacher Ms. Cusack. Some of my family accompanied us on the journey as well.
After arriving on Thursday afternoon, we started the trip by visiting various significant locations around the city, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial, and Checkpoint Charlie. We learned about how the holocaust was orchestrated at the Topography of Terrors. I was shocked as to just how little I knew about the full extent of the atrocities committed during World War II.
On Friday, we visited the Museum Island and saw various Egyptian and Roman artefacts, as well as different sculptures and paintings. We also attended the Berlin Global Exhibition at the Humboldt Forum, where we learned about the history of the city, before climbing the dome of the Berlin Cathedral. After, we visited the Irish Embassy, where we met the Irish Ambassador Maeve Collins and I got to discuss my project ‘A Crystal-Clear Way to Slow Down Ireland’s Energy Crisis.’ The day ended with a visit to the Bundestag and dinner with traditional German cuisine.
On Saturday we walked along Unter den Linden, one of the main streets in the city, and took in beautiful views from the top of the TV Tower, the tallest building in Europe. It was then time for the Berlin Long Night of Science. It took place across multiple venues, including the Humboldt University and the Technical University of Berlin. We had the opportunity to engage with exhibitions and speak to students from several different backgrounds. I learned about pathways into studying particle physics and relativity. This night was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip.
On Sunday, our final day, we visited the East Side Gallery and learned more about Berlin’s divided past. We took a walk further across the city and visited a local market, getting a deeper look into residential life in the city, before heading back to the airport for our flight home.
This trip was unforgettable - a truly enriching scientific, historical and cultural experience.
Special thanks to Martin Wall and Róisín Martin at the Irish Embassy for their hospitality, as well as Sheila and George Porter and the Department of Foreign Affairs for facilitating the opportunity for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
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| Fionn with Maeve Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the Federal Republic of Germany |
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Fionn outside the Irish Embassy in Berlin |
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Fionn outside the Humboldt University of Berlin |