International Participation
SciFest students currently have the opportunity to participate in two international events: the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the United States, the Berlin Long Night of Science in Germany and online in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF) in South Aftrica.
SciFest participated in the Intel (now sponsored by Regeneron) International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for the first time in May 2012. ISEF is a one-week science fair, held annually in the USA since 1950, at which some 1700 students from over 400 affiliated science fairs in over 60 countries, regions and territories compete for a range of prizes. The projects are judged by a 1000-strong panel of highly-qualified judges. In the 12 years in which SciFest has competed in ISEF (There was no competition element to ISEF in 2020 because of Covid) our students have won a total of 15 major awards.
Winners from the SciFest National Final also attend the Long Night of Science in Berlin, a prestigious event where numerous scientific institutions in Berlin and Potsdam invite visitors to laboratories, archives, libraries and lecture halls that are otherwise not open to the public. From 5 PM until midnight, visitors can participate in exciting experiments, learn about current research results and enjoy stimulating conversations.
SciFest participated in the Eskom Expo ISF for the first time in 2024. The ISF is hosted each year in September at the Convention Centre at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. A number of countries, including Ireland, participate online.
SciFest winners participated annually in the Broadcom MASTERS International in the United States of America up until the programme ended in 2022. They also represented Ireland and SciFest at the Hong Kong Global Youth Science and Technology Bowl (GYSTB). This competition was postponed indefinitely in 2022 due to the Covid pandemic. In the three years in which SciFest participated in GYSTB our students won a total of 8 major awards including a top Gold Medal Award.
For details of the five events and those who have participated in them please follow the links below.
The first step to potentially participating in one of these events is to enter a project in one of the 16 regional SciFest@College STEM fairs. Information on the SciFest@College fairs and on how to enter for teachers and students is available here and here, respectively. The latest date for receipt of completed entry forms for SciFest@College 2025 is Wednesday 12 March 2025.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Berlin Long Night of Science
Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF)
Global Youth Science and Technology Bowl (GYSTB)
Broadcom MASTERS International