The SciFest National Final 2016 took place in the Marino Conference Centre, Dublin on Friday 11 November 2016. The overall winners from each of the 16 regional SciFest science fairs and 6 of the top runners-up exhibited their projects and competed for a number of awards, including the SciFest 2016 Science Foundation Ireland Grand Award - a trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, California to represent Ireland in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2017.
The National Final included a competition for the best of the winners of the Boston Scientific Medical Devices award at the 16 regional fairs and also a competition for the best of the winners of the SEAI Sustainable Energy award at the regional fairs.
SciFest National Final 2016 - Award Winners
| Award |
SciFest 2016 Science Foundation Ireland Grand Award
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Student
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Caolann Brady
|
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Project
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Hum Your Way to Better Health
|
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School
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St. Wolstan's Community School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
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Teacher
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Karen O'Callaghan
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|
o
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|
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Award
|
Teacher of Excellence 2016 Award
|
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School
|
St. Wolstan's Community School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
|
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Teacher
|
Karen O'Callaghan
|
|
|
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| Award |
Berlin Long Night of Science 2016 Award
|
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Students
|
Heather Murphy, Naoise Tobin
|
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Project
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Sound Absorbing Paint
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School
|
Sutton Park School, Sutton, Dublin 13
|
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Teacher
|
Catherine Tattersall
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|
o
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|
| Award |
SEAI INESPO 2016 Award
|
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Students
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Ciara Mac Carthy, Claire Lemass
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Project
|
Caonach Cliste
|
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School
|
Our Lady's Bower, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
|
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Teacher
|
Ciaran Mac Carthy
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|
o
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Award
|
Boston Scientific Medical Devices 2016 Grand Award
|
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Students
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Lucy Leonard, Michele Mann
|
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Project
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Investigating the Difference in Bacterial Contamination when Handling and Using a Device to Insert Contact Lenses
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School
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Tullamore College, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
|
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Teacher
|
Elaine Howlin
|
|
o
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|
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Award
|
THEA 2016 Award
|
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Student
|
Seán Byrne
|
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Project
|
The Ugly Side of Beauty: An Investigation into Toxic Chemicals used in Cosmetics
|
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School
|
Avondale Community College, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow
|
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Teacher
|
Aoife Sullivan
|
|
o
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|
| Award |
ISTA 2016 Award
|
|
Student
|
Cora Twomey
|
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Project
|
Does Strongyloides Ransomi Exist on Irish Pig Farms?
|
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School
|
Davis College, Summerhill, Mallow, Co. Cork
|
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Teacher
|
Carol O’Sullivan
|
|
o
|
|
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Award
|
Spirit of SciFest 2016 Award
|
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Students
|
Marie Keogh, Grace Hanneffy, Roisin McEvoy
|
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Project
|
Eco Dishes
|
|
School
|
Mountrath Community School, Mountrath, Co. Laois
|
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Teacher
|
Dr Mary Kelly
|
Each of the 56 finalists was also presented with an Excellence in STEM Award to mark their achievement in reaching the National Final of SciFest 2016.