Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Regeneron ISEF (previously Intel ISEF) is an international STEM fair organised annually by Society for Science in the United States. There are currently over 400 STEM fairs in some 70 countries, regions and territories around the globe affiliated to Regeneron ISEF. Each year over 2000 winning students from these fairs participate in ISEF and compete for around $9 million in prizes.
SciFest has been affiliated to ISEF since 2011, giving students the opportunity to represent Ireland at this prestigious event. The first SciFest students competed in Intel ISEF in 2012 in Pittsburgh. Each year the top project, or projects, at the SciFest National Final go on to compete in ISEF with all expenses paid. The winner of the Teacher of Excellence Award at the National Final also receives an all-expenses-paid trip to ISEF.
SciFest students have been hugely successful at ISEF, winning a total of 15 major awards at the twelve fairs in which SciFest has competed since 2012 (There was no competition element to Regeneron ISEF in 2020 due to Covid). Details of the students who have represented Ireland at ISEF since 2012 are shown below.
Regeneron ISEF 2024 Los Angeles, California
|
| Student |
Jack Shannon |
| School |
Clongowes Wood College, Kilcock Road, Clane, Co. Kildare |
Teacher
|
Yvonne Nolan |
| Project |
Ireland’s Carbon Sinks – Remote Sensing for Monitoring Peatland Restoration |
Awards
|
EU Contest for Young Scientists Award |
| First Place in ‘Environmental Engineering’ Category |
Regeneron ISEF 2023 Dallas, Texas
|
| Students |
Rachel Griffin, Luke O'Sullivan, Liam Waldron |
| School |
Killarney Community College, New Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry |
Teacher
|
Maire Spillane |
| Project |
A Group-Theoretic Approach to Pythagoras’ Theorem |
Regeneron ISEF 2022 Atlanta, Georgia
|
| Student |
Clare Reidy
|
| School |
Our Lady's Bower secondary school, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
|
Teacher
|
Julie-Anne Greaney |
| Project |
Cosmic Radiation Protection Simulation |
Regeneron ISEF 2021 Online
|
| Student |
Conor Casey |
| School |
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, Co. Kerry |
Teacher
|
Sarah Abbott |
| Project |
Using AI to Improve Weather Prediction |
| Award |
Second Place Category Award |
| |
|
| Student |
Caoimhín O'Leary |
| School |
Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, Co. Waterford |
| Teacher |
Niamh Shannon |
| Project |
Image Analysis of Rehabilitating Patients’ Exercises to Measure and Improve Recovery |
| |
|
| Students |
Dara Newsome, Conor Bradshaw, David Hughes |
| School |
Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry |
| Teacher |
Eimear Nolan |
| Project |
Specs - A Wearable Smart Device for Dementia Patients |
Regeneron ISEF 2020 Online
|
| Student |
Timothy McGrath |
| School |
Killorglin Community College, Killorglin, Co. Kerry |
Teacher
|
Marieke O'Connor |
| Project |
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 |
| Award |
No Competition
|
| |
|
| Student |
Alice Shaughnessy |
| School |
Calasanctius College, Oranmore, Co. Galway |
| Teacher |
Christina Kenny |
| Project |
Omnidirectional Magnetic Driving System |
| Award |
No Competition |
Intel ISEF 2019 Phoenix, Arizona
|
| Student |
Adam Kelly |
| School |
Skerries Community College, Skerries, Co. Dublin |
Teacher
|
Louise Sullivan |
| Project |
Improved Gate Level Simulation of Quantum Circuits |
Awards
|
Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award |
| Best in Category Award |
First Place Category Award
|
| NSA Research Directorate: Honorable Mention, "Science of Security" |
Intel ISEF 2018 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
| Student |
Aaron Hannon |
| School |
St Muredach's College, Ballina, Co. Mayo |
Teacher
|
Kevin Boyle |
| Project |
Developing a Facial Shaving Device for People with Limited Hand Dexterity |
| Award |
First Place Category Award
|
Intel ISEF 2017 Los Angeles, California
|
| Student |
Caolann Brady |
| School |
St Wolstan's Community School, Clane, Co. Kildare |
Teacher
|
Karen O’Callaghan |
| Project |
Hum Your Way to Better Health To Investigate through Research and Experimentation: The Effect of Nasal Breathing and Meditative Humming Techniques on Lung Function |
| Award |
Second Place Category Award
|
Intel ISEF 2016 Phoenix, Arizona
|
| Student |
Louis Madden |
| School |
Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan |
Teacher
|
Sharon Magennis |
| Project |
Bringing Genetics to the Masses: The Development of a Low Cost DNA Extraction and Profiling Kit |
Awards
|
Bruno Kessler Foundation Award |
| Monsanto Award for Innovation in Plant Sciences |
Intel ISEF 2015 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
| Student |
Christopher Carragher |
| School |
Our Lady's Secondary School, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan |
Teacher
|
Kathryn Higgins |
| Project |
An Integrated Electronic Medical Dispensing, Diary and Locator Device to Support Memory Impaired Independent Living (Memory Buddy) |
| Award |
Second Place Category Award
|
Intel ISEF 2014 Los Angeles, California
|
| Student |
Paul Clarke |
| School |
St Paul's College, Raheny, Dublin 5 |
Teacher
|
Brian Smyth |
| Project |
On the Hamiltonicity of Cubic, Polyhedral, Bipartite Graphs |
| Award |
American Mathematical Society Award
|
| |
|
| Student |
Connor Foy |
| School |
Coláiste Ciaráin, Croom, Co. Limerick |
Teacher
|
Edel Farrell
|
| Project |
To Design and Manufacture a Device to Maximize the Performance of Rowers |
Awards
|
Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc Award
|
Fourth Place Category Award
|
Intel ISEF 2013 Phoenix, Arizona
|
| Student |
Simon Bluett |
| School |
CBS, James's Street, Kilkenny |
Teacher
|
Patrick McCormack |
| Project |
Easyflick: Innovative, Easy to Use and Safe Circuit and Lighting Control for Every House |
Intel ISEF 2012 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
| Students |
Eoghan Flynn, Ruairi O’Neill |
| School |
Blackwater Community School, Lismore, Co. Waterford |
Teacher
|
David King |
| Project |
Polyfuel – A Novel Solution to Fuel Shortages and Disposal of ElPs |
| Award |
Second Place Category Award |