SciFest@School EirGrid Award
There is no better way to celebrate excellence in STEM in a school than to host a SciFest@School STEM fair. This academic year has marked the beginning of a return to some normality, and for SciFest we are thrilled to be able to visit schools and enjoy in-person STEM fairs once again. Whilst SciFest successfully facilitated the programme online throughout the pandemic there is no replacing the impact and the joy of meeting the students and teachers face-to-face and hearing all about the students’ amazing projects.
In November of 2021 we were very excited that EirGrid decided to support SciFest as a Gold SciFest@School sponsor with the introduction of a new SciFest@School Award, ‘the 'EirGrid Climate and Cleaner Energy Future Award’. This award is designed to raise awareness in second-level students of the need for climate action and to encourage them to become catalysts for change with regards to the most important issue facing the world today.
The first ‘EirGrid Climate and Cleaner Energy Future Award’ of the current academic year was presented at a SciFest@School STEM fair on 27 October for Transition Year students attending the Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane, Cork. The award went to Katie and Shauna for their project, ‘Climate Change on Habitats is not a Myth’. Well done to Katie and Shauna and to their teachers and mentors, Gretta O’Sullivan and Ms Collins. SciFest was represented at the event by SciFest SLOs, Dr Billy Fleming and Sean Foley.
On the same day a SciFest@School STEM fair took place in Sandymount Park ETSS in Dublin. This was also a fair for TY students. SciFest was represented at this fair by Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO and Catherine Tattersall, SciFest SLO. Erol Close, Head of Strategy and Sustainability, Eunice Oliveira, Digital Communication Specialist and Iain Flattery from EirGrid also attended the event. The event started at 10 a.m. and there was a great buzz in the hall as various classes visited throughout the day and chatted to the students about their research. The projects varied with topics including ‘The Cleanliness of Dublin Rivers’, ‘Tennis Ball Bounce’ and ‘How much oil is there in different Foundations’. Congratulations to Matilda and Lily who were awarded the Best Project Award for their project ‘The Cleanliness of Dublin Rivers’. The organising teacher was Conor Maxwell. He was supported by teachers Ian Gallagher and Clodagh Wheeler. Well done to all involved.
Numerous schools have added a SciFest@School to their annual calendar. SciFest not only promotes STEM in the greater school community but provides an opportunity for students to get involved in a STEM-based activity and get a taste of what it is like to be a professional research scientist. When participating in SciFest students have the choice of what to study and how to go about it. No matter how simple or complicated the investigation this type of learning experience coupled with the opportunity of sharing the results with the class, or the judges at a SciFest STEM fair takes students to another level beyond just memorising facts. They grow in confidence, improve their presentation skills and learn how to work collaboratively.
For a list of schools who have registered to date for SciFest@School fairs see link.