SciFest@College 2023 Major Awards
The following awards are available for projects entered in each of the regional SciFest@College venues.
To view the specific criteria for each award please click on the award title.
Note: An award may not be presented if, in the opinion of the judges, no project meeting the criteria for the particular award is of sufficient standard to merit the award.
Note: Available awards, and award criteria, may change in the course of the year in the light of prevailing circumstances.
Award Criteria
Best Project Award
This award is presented to the overall best project.
The Best Project Award Winners from the SciFest@College 2023 regional STEM fairs will participate in the National Final competition which takes place on 24 November 2023 provided the project meets Criterion 1 below.
Participants in the National Final will compete for the SciFest STEM Champion 2023 Award. This award consists of a trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip for the winning student(s) and their mentor to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Criterion 1. The winner of this award must, in the opinion of the judges, be capable of taking the project further and competing at an international level.
Criterion 2. To qualify for the Regeneron ISEF Award at the SciFest 2023 National Final a project must comply with the rules of Regeneron ISEF 2024.
Runner-up Best Project Award
This award is presented to the overall second-best project.
The best of the runners-up from the regional events will also participate in the National Final and compete for the SciFest STEM Champion 2023 Award.
Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award
This award is presented to the project that best demonstrates:
- Understanding of a problem/unanswered question related to science or engineering in the field of medical devices
- Understanding of an area where you have experience or are aware of something to help / improve /change a person’s quality of life who may have a medical need - parent / sister / brother / grandparent / classmate
- A contribution to the medical device field through research/experimentation
The best of the winners of this award at the regional fairs will compete at the National Final for the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award.
Following the completion of the regional SciFest@College 2023 STEM fairs a panel of judges appointed by Boston Scientific and SciFest will assess the projects, based on the report books, and select the projects to go forward to compete for the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award at the National Final 2023.
EirGrid Climate and Delivering a Cleaner Energy Future Award
This award is presented to the project that best demonstrates the design of a creative, innovative approach to utilising energy from clean resources to undertake everyday functions and includes at least one of the following:
• Research into how that energy would be transported from where it is created to where it is needed as efficiently as possible
• Research into the climate impact of the innovation
The best of the winners of this award at the regional fairs will compete at the National Final for the EirGrid Climate and Delivering a Cleaner Energy Future Grand Award.
Following the completion of the regional SciFest@College 2023 STEM fairs a panel of judges appointed by EirGrid and SciFest will assess the projects, based on the report books, and select the projects to go forward to compete for the EirGrid Climate and Delivering a Cleaner Energy Future Grand Award at the National Final 2023.
Intel Technology Award
This award is presented to the best project in the Technology category. If the overall best project or the runner-up is awarded in the Technology category this prize is awarded to the next best project in this category.
Institute of Physics Award
This award is presented to the project with the best physics content; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.
Business Excellence Institute Award
This award is presented to the project with the greatest potential to impact organisations and/or industries; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.
Smurfit Kappa Sustainability Award
This award is presented to the project that best demonstrates the following:
- Design of a creative, innovative paper-based alternative for an unsustainable plastic product
- Science and engineering
- Research into the plastic pollution problem
- Informs and educates on the benefits and value of using sustainable paper-based products
This award may be made in any of the 3 categories.
Fenergo Communication Award
This award is presented to either a group or an individual whose project has an organised and clear report book, demonstrates enthusiasm and confidence in their presentation and can clearly convey how their project impacts the end user.
Accenture Maths in Science Award
This award is presented to the project with the best use of maths; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.
Regeneron Life Sciences Award
This award is presented to the project that best demonstrates a passion for using science for good, an exceptional understanding of life sciences concepts, perseverance and flexibility.
Dawn Meats Agricultural Science Award
This award is presented to the best Agricultural Science project; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.
SciFest Chemistry Award
This award is presented to the project with the best chemistry content; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.
ESERO Discover Space Award
The European Space Education Resource Office Ireland (ESERO Ireland) is a project co-funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the European Space Agency. The aim of the project is to use space as a theme to support the teaching of science and maths through the provision of resources, inspirational materials and training for teachers.
Criteria: The award is presented to the project which best uses Space as a theme in science, technology or maths. Space education information and resources are available from www.esero.ie.
Irish Science Teachers' Association Student Award
This award is presented to the best project in the Junior Category. If the Best Project Award winner or Runner-up is from the Junior Category the prize will be awarded to the next best project in the category.