South East Technological University (SETU) hosted SciFest at its Carlow campus for the annual Irish STEM festival. The festival is dedicated to promoting scientific inquiry and innovation among students at secondary school level.
SciFest, founded in 2006 is a true celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education. Spanning all of Ireland it has grown in the 18 years to become Ireland’s largest second-level STEM fair programme. SciFest fairs provide a platform for students to showcase their projects, exchange ideas, and connect with fellow enthusiasts and experts alike. Participation is an exciting opportunity for them to explore, innovate, and share their passion for STEM subjects.
SciFest operates throughout the school year and, being locally and regionally based and free-to-enter, is highly inclusive and accessible. Winners from each regional STEM fair go on to compete at a national final in November. Winners from the national final compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in America and attend the Long Night of Science in Berlin. The SciFest programme is funded primarily by Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific, and EirGrid.
This year, SciFest at SETU welcomed nearly 70 entries from nine different schools, each showcasing the best of scientific inquiry across diverse disciplines including life sciences, physics, and technology. The event was a great success thanks to the dedication of the young scientists and their teachers with great presentations being showcased by fabulous communicators. The involvement of academics from different fields and industry leaders played a pivotal role in shaping SciFest’s success.
Speaking at the event, President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, said, “SciFest is now in its 15th year here on the Carlow campus and it is clear that students, staff, teachers, and mentors have a wonderful relationship with the festival. The aim of SciFest is to promote a love of science, technology, engineering, and maths amongst second-level students. This is achieved by creating opportunities for students to develop their interest and knowledge in specific areas of study in STEM and to subsequently give a platform to the students to share their discoveries.”
Prof. Campbell continued, “To the students here today, I commend you for your participation in SciFest. I hope that events such as this will inspire you to follow your passion and lead you to a satisfying and rewarding career in a STEM area. I would like to thank our partners, Intel, Boston Scientific and Eirgrid for their continued support of this wonderful initiative. To the lecturers, teachers, mentors, and organisers who have made this event possible, I extend my sincere thanks. Your dedication in nurturing the next generation of scientists and innovators is truly commendable.”
Commenting on the SciFest at SETU regional STEM fair, Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO said, “SciFest is more than just an event: it is a platform where students not only showcase their STEM projects but also embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Through hands-on exploration, engaging discussions, and connections with mentors, role models and peers, SciFest inspires a generation of problem-solvers and innovators. With over 12,000 students participating annually and experiencing a remarkable growth rate of around 20%, SciFest is paving the way for a brighter, more innovative future for all. The increasing participation is thanks to the dedication of teachers, mentors, parents, coordinators in the third level colleges and our partners and sponsors, who continue to support us in inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers. We deeply appreciate their commitment."
Prior to the highly anticipated award ceremony, participants at SciFest at SETU were treated to an inspiring talk by Dr. Adriana Cunha Neves and Dr. Stephen Scully. Their insights shed light on the impact of chemistry in everyday life, as well as its role in ground-breaking endeavours such as space exploration. Their words inspired the audience, igniting a newfound passion for scientific exploration and discovery.
In a world that is constantly evolving, SETU recognises the vital importance of STEM subjects. It is through scientific inquiry and technological innovation that we tackle some of the most pressing issues facing humanity, from climate change to public health, from poverty to sustainable development.
Photo Caption: Secondary school students who took part in SciFest at South East Technological University (SETU) for Ireland’s annual STEM festival. Students presented their projects to attendees staff and students at the University’s Carlow campus.
