The SciFest 2018 National Final in Association with SFI took place in the Marino Conference Centre, Dublin on Friday 9 November 2018. The overall winners from each of the 16 regional SciFest science fairs and 11 of the top runners-up exhibited their projects and competed for a number of awards, including the SciFest 2018 Science Foundation Ireland Intel ISEF Award - a trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip to Phoenix, Arizona to represent Ireland in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2019.
This year saw the introduction of a new award - the Broadcom MASTERS Award. The recipient won a trophy and an all expenses paid trip, accompanied by a parent/guardian, to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS International Programme, including attendance at ISEF in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2019.
The National Final included a competition for the best of the winners of the Boston Scientific Medical Devices award at the 16 regional fairs. This year the standard was exceptionally high and 6 projects were selected to compete at the National Final.
To view the project abstracts of all national finalists, please click here.
SciFest National Final 2018 - Award Winners
| Award |
SciFest 2018 Science Foundation Ireland Intel ISEF Award
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Student
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Adam Kelly
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Project
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An Open Source Solution to Simulating Quantum Computers Using Hardware Acceleration
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School
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Skerries Community College, Balbriggan St, Skerries, Co. Dublin
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Teacher
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Louise Sullivan
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o
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Award
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Teacher of Excellence 2018 Award
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School
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Skerries Community College, Balbriggan St, Skerries, Co. Dublin
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Teacher
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Louise Sullivan
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Award
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Berlin Long Night of Science 2018 Award
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Student
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Odhran Brady
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Project
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Quantifying Whiplash: An IoT Sensoring Approach to Help Reduce Insurance Claims Costs
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School
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Salesian College, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
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Teacher
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Jorges Andres
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o
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Award
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Boston Scientific Medical Devices 2018 Grand Award
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Student
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Nicole Marinos
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Project
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Visual Communication Device to Promote Patient Participation and Wellness During Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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School
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Christ King Girls' Secondary School, Half Moon Lane, South Douglas Road, Cork
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Teacher
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Denise Quilter
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o
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| Award |
Broadcom MASTERS Award 2018
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Student
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Éabha Kenny
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Project
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The Investigation of how Microwave Radiation Affects Living Organisms
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School
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Scoil Muire gan Smal, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon Town, Co. Roscommon
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Teacher
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Padraig Harlow
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o
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| Award |
The Abbott Ireland Life Sciences Award
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Students
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Emma Kelly, Brian Conlon
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Project
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Ireland’s Burning Problem: A Study of the Ecological Impact of Irish Gorse Fires
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School
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Moate Community School, Church Street, Moate, Co. Westmeath
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Teacher
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Mairead Cusack
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o
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Award
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ISTA 2018 Award
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Students
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Conn Caomhánach, Con Ó Meachair
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Project
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Investigating the Biological Benefits of EM Probiotics in Agriculture
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School
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Meanscoil Gharman, Brownswood, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
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Teacher
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Elaine Nic Réamoinn
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o
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| Award |
THEA 2018 Award
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Students
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Tony O'Halloran, Aidan Mamo Cooney
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Project
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Applications of Queuing Theory to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Ireland
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School
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Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown, Cork
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Teacher
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Tim Kerins
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o
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| Award |
SciFest STEM Outreach Award 2018
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Students
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Darragh Fleming, Ethan O Neill, Colm Looney
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Project
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Deer Watch
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School
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Coláiste Bhréanainn, Cill Airne, Co. Chiarraí
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Teacher
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Marian O'Gorman
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o
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Award
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SciFest Scientist of the Future Award
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Student
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Leo Camacho
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Project
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Making Social Media a Better Place Using Artificial Intelligence
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School
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St Eunan's College, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
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Teacher
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Jane Gill
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| Award |
Intel Excellence in Computer Science Award
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Student
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Adam Kelly
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Project
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An Open Source Solution to Simulating Quantum Computers Using Hardware Acceleration
|
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School
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Skerries Community College, Balbriggan St, Skerries, Co. Dublin
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Teacher
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Louise Sullivan
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o
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| Award |
Mu Alpha Theta Award
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Students
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Tony O’Halloran, Aidan Mamo Cooney
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Project
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Applications of Queuing Theory to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Ireland
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School
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Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown, Cork
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Teacher
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Tim Kerins
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o
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| Award |
The American Psychological Association Award
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Student
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Paul Hamilton
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Project
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What Makes a Good Science Teacher? A Statistical Analysis of Diverse Second-Level Student and Teacher Attitudes on What Constitutes a Good Science Teacher
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School
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Ardscoil Ris, North Circular Rd, Limerick
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Teacher
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Diane Condon
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o
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| Award |
Yale Science and Engineering Association
|
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Student
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Ronan Mullane
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Project
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Desmond College, Station Road, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick
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School
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Scrum Developer
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Teacher
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Donal Enright
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|
o
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Each of the 64 finalists was also presented with an Excellence in STEM Award to mark their achievement in reaching the National Final of SciFest 2018.