1. Student Presentation
Scifest@College

2. What is SciFest?
A festival of science
open to all second-level students which
encourages a love of science through
Does m
usic r
enquiry- based learning Tug at eally
Heart your
string
s?
and provides an opportunity
for students to display
their scientific
discoveries

3. Who Can Enter SciFest?
SciFest is open to all second-level students
Age Category:
Junior - 1st Year and 2nd Year
Intermediate - 3rd Year and 4th Year
Senior - 5th Year and 6th Year
Project Type:
 Individual
 Group - (Max. 3 students per group – all group members must
be in attendance at the exhibition)
Project Category:
 Physical Sciences
 Life Sciences
 Technology

4. Why do Scifest@ITB
 It’s a GREAT day out!
 Preparing project work for
Scifest can give you a more in-depth
understanding and confidence in science, maths
and engineering.
 Exhibiting at SciFest is good preparation for the
Coursework B element of the Junior Certificate
examination or the project itself, if it meets the
specified criteria.
 You can win prizes!
 Formula 1 Expo.

5. 2012 Programme
10.00 Registration and Set-up
10.45 Opening Ceremony
10.45 Judging
12.15 Lunch
13.00 Formula 1 Expo
14.00 Prize Ceremony
14.45 Closing Address
15.00 Event closes

6. Awards
Trophies
& Prizes
Priz
e s

7. Baking it up! Project Examples
est
Stro op T
Cris
p Sc
ienc
e
Solar
Power
Beat Blockers Cooke
r

8. Other Awards
Sponsored by the Discover Sensors Project
(www.discoversensors.ie)
What Are Sensors?
Sensors are devices that convert a
physical parameter such as room
temperature, blood pressure or wind speed
Discover Sensor Winner 2012 into a signal that can be measured
Noisy Neighbours electrically.
by Colin Clarke
from St. Peter’s Two awards may be presented for the
College, Dunboyne best Discover Sensors project where the
investigation involves substantial use of
one or more digital sensors in conjunction
with a datalogger or computer.
Colin investigated the transmission of sound
through walls and insulation. He made good
use of the LabQuest software and used both Prizes
the frequency generator function and FFT School Prize: Discover Sensors Trophy
for analysis. Student Prize: One4all vouchers
Teacher Prize: One4all vouchers

9. Other Awards Discover Space Award
The award is presented
to the project which
Maths in Science Award
best uses Space as a theme
Judges will be asked to identify the
in science, technology or maths.
project which best illustrates the Space education information and
importance of mathematics in science. resources are available from
The selected projects will be passed to www.esero.ie.
a SciFest judging panel.
Prizes Prizes
Trophy Trophy
One4all vouchers
2012 Winners
An investigation into the
experimenter demand effect
– could it influence students Discover Space Winner 2012
in our school?
By; Megan Weston and
Can we grow a plant on Mars?,
Kate Thompson, from by Aoife Downey,
Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan.
from St. Michaels Loreto, Navan

10. r
fo
EW 012
Global Other Awards
N 2
Citizenship and Sustainable Energy
Sustainability Award Award
The award was set up to support and The award will be presented to
develop closer links between young Irish the project that demonstrates one or more
and African students and to support of the following:
Young Scientists Tanzania. 1.Energy efficiency in action
www.youngscientists.co.tz 2.Investigation into renewable energy
3.Awareness raising of a topic related to
Project Criteria
sustainable energy
The student/s submitting the project
Prizes
1.
must connect with a similar group of
Trophy
students in Africa and have worked
together on the same investigation.
Sustainable
2.The report must include data collected
in Ireland and in Africa Energy Award
3.The project must focus on a
2012
sustainability issue (e.g., food, water, Under pressure to
energy, climate change, sanitation, soil generate electricity!
fertility, fishery, equality, access to by Alice Brennan, from
education, health or ICT, poverty, etc.)
St. Michaels Loreto, Navan

11. SciFest celebrates excellence in STEM
education
October 2012
‘Intel Celebrates Excellence in Science’
Twenty-Four second level students were awarded Intel
Excellence in Science awards in recognition of their
achievement in SciFest 2012 by Dr. Graham Love,
Director of Discover Science & Engineering Programme
at Science Foundation Ireland

12. What You Need to do Today
 Log onto www.scifest.ie
 Use the information given on the website especially the ‘Guidelines
for Entrants’ and ‘Report Book and Presentation’
 Download and print out an entry form
 Make out a ‘things to do’ list
Group Project
Pick students you know you can work with
Work with somebody who lives near you or is in your class
Decide on a group leader, divide up the work - teamwork is very
important
Arrange definite times to meet!

13. Deciding on an Idea
Check out ‘Project Ideas’ on the
SciFest website, www.scifest.ie.
Brainstorm!!!
Talk to your parents, your teacher,
your friends
Check out the Internet and the library
Watch the news and read the newspaper
Have you a hobby?
Is there a particular area of science you are interested in?
 Write out the idea in your own words
Remember YOU CAN DO IT

14. Research and Brainstorm
 Get a large sheet of paper and brainstorm with your
team
 Make a shortlist of ‘best ideas’ Find out as much as you
can about the topic
 What questions would you like to try to answer?
 Can you find a mentor, i.e., someone
from a company, a hospital or a third
level college who might be a source
of information and/or resources

15. Remember
 Investigate only one variable
 Keep all other factors constant
 Have a control
 Repeat the experiment a
number of times
 Be prepared to change your
approach when necessary B Safe
e
 Ensure that it is a fair test
Check that you are not planning any
dangerous experiments or using
harmful equipment or chemicals

16. A Completed Project Must Contain
1. PROJECT REPORT BOOK
o Title Page Projec
t Report
o Introduction
o Background Research Is the
viscos
ity of
o Experimental Methods by hea oil affected
t?
o Results
o Conclusions and Recommendations
o Acknowledgements
o Appendices Jessic
a Dee
o References Mary
Lo
Jones
St An uise ward
ne’s S
c
Co Lim hool
erick
2. SUMMARY (included in Report Book)
This is a short description of what your science project is
about. It should be no more than two typed pages in length
3. VISUAL DISPLAY
Should be bright, attractive, clear and concise
See www.scifest.ie – Report Book and Presentation

17. The Website - www.scifest.ie
 SciFest 2013
- Guidelines for entrants
- Entry Forms
- Report Book and Presentation
 Transition Year Module ‘Science by Inquiry’
 Project Ideas
 Exhibition Dates and Contacts
 Links and Resources
 Project Blogger (www.projectblogger.ie)
 Media Centre
and more …………………………..

18. SciFest
Be a part of something
BIG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=EMqNxVgaD3c&feature=channel