2015 @
Welcome to the 8th annual SciFest organised in the North Western region by the Institute of Technology Sligo, at the Knocknarea Arena (Multi-purpose area) on Wednesday 13th of May 2015
SciFest
The SciFest science fairs programme is a national initiative founded in 2006 to encourage a love of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through active, collaborative, inquiry-based learning. The programme offers an innovative way to expose students to, and enhance their understanding of, STEM subjects. Own choice of topic, collaboration, hands-on activities, presentation skills and recognition of work done are all attractive aspects of SciFest. The emphasis on real-world problems helps make STEM relevant to all students. They grow in confidence, develop their critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills and become aware of the variety of exciting careers associated with a STEM qualification.
The SciFest programme was launched nationwide in 2008 and grew so rapidly that three more strands were added in 2011. Currently, the four strands of SciFest are: SciFest@School (in-house science fairs in schools); SciFest@College (14 IoTs and St Mary’s Derry host regional science fairs for second-level students); a national final held in Dublin; and participation in international competitions – the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in America and the International Environment and Sustainability Project Olympiad (INESPO) in The Hague.
SciFest continues to grow. In 2014 over 6000 second-level students participated, making SciFest one of the largest science fairs of its kind in Europe. Since 2008 more than of 28,000 second-level students have participated in the programme. The increasing popularity of SciFest reflects the fact that it is accessible, inclusive and free to enter, while recognising diversity and the uniqueness of the individual.
The Institute of Technology Sligo have been successfully hosting a SciFest@College science fair each year since 2008.
Summary Table of numbers and types of Project in 2011
Total No. of Projects / 125Total No. of Students / 309
No. of projects
Age Category / Junior / 61
Intermediate / 56
Senior / 8
Project Type / Individual / 14
Group / 111
Project Category / Physical Sciences / 40
Life Sciences / 73
Technology / 12
Discover Sensors / Yes / 18
No / 107
Young Scientist 2011 / Yes / 13
No / 112
Summary Table of numbers and types of Project in 2012
Total No. of Projects / 97Total No. of Students / 237
No. of projects
Age Category / Junior / 60
Intermediate / 33
Senior / 4
Project Type / Individual / 10
Group / 87
Project Category / Physical Sciences / 32
Life Sciences / 54
Technology / 11
Discover Sensors / Yes / 16
Previous SciFest / No
Yes / 81
14
No / 82
Young Scientist 2012 / Yes / 14
No / 83
Summary Table of numbers and types of Project in 2013
Total No. of Projects / 131Total No. of Students / 312
No. of projects
Age Category / Junior / 63
Intermediate / 63
Senior / 5
Project Type / Individual / 18
Group / 113
Project Category / Physical Sciences / 39
Life Sciences / 80
Technology / 12
Previous SciFest / Yes / 26
No / 105
Young Scientist 2013 / Yes / 17
No / 113
Summary Table of numbers and types of Project in 2014
Total No. of Projects / 139Total No. of Students / 341
No. of projects
Age Category / Junior / 62
Intermediate / 67
Senior / 10
Project Type / Individual / 13
Group / 126
Project Category / Physical Sciences / 29
Life Sciences / 92
Technology / 18
Previous SciFest / Yes / 22
No / 117
Young Scientist 2014 / Yes / 22
No / 117
Summary Table of numbers and types of Project for this year, 2015
Total No. of Projects / 90Total No. of Students / 204
No. of projects
Age Category / Junior / 48
Intermediate / 33
Senior / 9
Project Type / Individual / 18
Group / 72
Project Category / Physical Sciences / 22
Life Sciences / 54
Technology / 14
Previous SciFest / Yes / 14
No / 76
Young Scientist 2015 / Yes / 7
No / 82
Parking Car-parking will be available at the venue
Display Arrangements Each project will be allocated a display board (1200 mm wide x 900 mm high) which is “Velcro friendly” – Velcro not supplied;
[Note that display area is A1-Landscape. We recommend that each competitor purchase an A1 poster board, and mounts all material on it before arrival. As A1 is awkward to carry and the display material will be vulnerable in transit, a useful alternative is:
(i) purchase 2 x A2 poster boards;
(ii) lay them side by side vertically (portrait style), to give A1-Landscape overall; (iii) tape them together on the back; (iv) mount material, avoiding centre line if possible; (v) fold over with mounted material on the inside; (vi) wrap/bag if possible, giving a protected, easily carried A2 parcel].
Each project will also be allocated a standard size table, immediately in front of display board, allowing for display of project folder and any other items needing a horizontal surface
Catering Arrangements
Sandwiches or light lunch will be available for purchase in the College Canteen, for competitors and teachers. It will be served at approx. 12.15p.m. in the Main Canteen on campus. Teachers will be provided with vouchers to the value of €8 to help cover the cost of lunch, which can be used only in the College Canteen. Unfortunately student lunches will not be subsidised this year. College Canteen is Building A on map; come across car park and into main entrance of IT, turn right on entrance and straight through to canteen.
Project Set Up Arrangements
· Students should plan to arrive at the IT Sligo before 9.00a.m. on Friday 13th May (building open from 8a.m.).
· Projects should be set up by 9.45a.m. at the latest, in time for opening
· Opening ceremony at 10.00am
· Electrical power will be provided, only for those projects requesting it in advance
Judging Arrangements
· Every project will be visited by at least 2 judges
· Judging will commence at 10.00a.m. and continue until 12.15p.m.
· Each judge/team of judges will spend approximately 10 minutes at a project
· Students are reminded to take their project folder to the event
· Each individual competitor, or at least one of a group, must be present at their stand 10.00a.m – 12.15p.m.
Arrangements for Visits by School Groups
· We expect to be able to accommodate School groups to attend the afternoon part of the event, but please advise us re numbers and means of transport (e.g. size of bus, if relevant)
· School visits are scheduled from 1p.m. to 3.40p.m. on the day.
· From 1p.m. to 3p.m., we are organizing Lab Demonstrations and Lectures on Science Topics, Careers in Science, and Science Course Options, for both competitors and visitors
· We may not have room for visitors to attend award ceremony, but we hope to able to give them an opportunity to view the entries.
Arrangements for publicity
· To promote the event, IT Sligo may take photographs of students with their projects.
Supervision of students
· It is vital that the teachers supervise the students while in the Institute. In particular, students need to be at their stands during judging, as the judges will be under time pressure, and may not easily get back if they miss someone.
Certification
· In recognition of the work carried out on the project, each student will receive a certificate of entry from IT Sligo;
· Prize-winners will receive appropriate Certificates (in addition to prizes)
· Highly Commended projects will also receive certificates
· We will also acknowledge the effort of teachers in support of their students
Categories-
LS Life Science
T Technology
PS Physical Sciences
Age Groups
J Junior 1st and 2nd year
I Intermediate 3rd 4th (transition year)
S Senior 5th and 6th year
Awards
Prizes will be awarded in the following Categories:
1. Special Awards;
2. Local Awards
1. Special Awards
The following awards will be presented at each SciFest@College 2015 event.
1. SFI/Discover Best Project Award / · Trophy· + €20 One4All gift token per student
2. Abbott Runner-up Best Project Award / · Trophy
· + €20 One4All gift token per student
3. Intel Award (Best Physical Science or Technology Project) / · Trophy
· + €20 One4All gift token per student
4. Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award / · Trophy
· + €20 One4All gift token per student
5. Newstalk Best Communicator Award / · Trophy
· + €20 One4All gift token per student
6. PharmaChemical Ireland Chemistry Award / · Trophy
· + €20 One4All gift token per student
7. Sustainable Energy Award (SEAI) / · Trophy
· + €20 One4All gift token per student
8. EPI-STEM Maths in Science Award
(National Centre for STEM Education) / · Trophy
· + €20 One4All gift token per student
9. Irish Science Teachers’ Association Award / · Trophy
10. Discover Space Award (ESERO Ireland) / · Trophy for student
Discover Space Teacher Award (ESERO Ireland) / · Space Atlas for teacher
11. RSC School Chemistry Award (Royal Society of Chemistry Education Division) / · Equipment for chemistry laboratory in school
1. SFI Discover Best Project Award
The Best Project Award winner/s from each SciFest@College 2015 will participate in a national final competition on 6th November in Dublin. There they will compete for the SFI Discover Intel ISEF 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 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix in May 2016.
Note. The winner of this award should be capable of taking the project further and competing at an international level.
2. Abbott Runner-up Best Project Award
This award is presented to the overall second best project.
3. Intel Award
This award is presented to the best project in the Physical Sciences and Technology categories.
Note. If the SFI Discover Best Project Award winner or Runner-up is from either the Physical Sciences or the Technology category the prize will be awarded to the next best project in these categories.
4. Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award
This award will be 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 / class mate
· Provides a contribution to the medical device field through research / experimentation.
Note. This award may be presented only to a project based on an investigation of a human medical device – see www.scifest.ie for PowerPoint presentation: What is a medical device?
5. Newstalk Best Communicator Award
This award may be presented to either a group or an individual. The recipient/s of this award should demonstrate exceptional ability in effectively communicating their findings to the judges. This award is based on the score obtained in Section 2 of the score sheet (Subtotal 2).
6. PharmaChemical Ireland Chemistry Award
This award is presented to the project with the best chemistry content; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.
7. SEAI Sustainable Energy Award
· This award is presented to the project that demonstrates one or more of the following: Energy efficiency in action
· Investigation into renewable energy
· Awareness raising of a topic related to sustainable energy
Note. The winners of this award compete for the SEAI INESPO Award (International Environmental & Sustainability Project Olympiad) and should be capable of taking the project further and competing at an international level. The project must meet the above criteria.
8. EPI-STEM Maths Award
This award is presented to the project with the best use of maths; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.
9. Irish Science Teachers’ Award
This award is presented to the project in the Junior Category. If the SFI Discover 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.
10. ESERO Ireland Discover Space Award
The award is presented to the project which best uses Space as a theme in science, technology or maths.
Discover Space Teacher Award: The teacher of the winning student/s should be called up on to the stage to receive the Discover Space Teacher Award. Directly after the award has been presented to the students.
11. RSC School Chemistry Award
This award will be presented to the school attended by the students that were awarded the Chemistry Award.
Note. This award should be presented separately to the teacher from the school attended by the students who were awarded the Chemistry Award. It is sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry Education Division.
2. Local Awards
· First Prize in each category sponsored by IT Sligo.
· Second Prize in each category sponsored by IT Sligo.
· Certificates will be awarded by IT Sligo to all highly commended projects
Our Judges
Our judges have kindly agreed to give up their time to come along and take part in what we hope will be a very exciting day for all involved, They are representing the IT, Local Industry, the HSE and St Angela’s College they are looking forward to meeting all of you and finding out more about your projects.
Thank you all for entering the competition and we hope that you will enjoy your day in IT Sligo, and continue your studies in Science and Technology. Good luck in the competition today.
Our Sponsors
SciFest gratefully acknowledges the support and generosity of its partners. In recognition of their generous contributions please take a moment to visit their respective websites to learn more about these important sponsors and their products and services.