The SciFest fair has today (7 February) kicked off its 2022 programme with a call for entrants to its regional competition.

The national STEM fair aimed at secondary school children is entering into its 17th year this year. Its annual competition is free to enter for all students across Ireland. The organisers are seeking entrants for the 16 SciFest@College regional fairs. The deadline for completed entry forms is 11 March.

The fair is eyeing a return to in-person events having held last year and the previous year’s competitions virtually. Each year, the competition attracts around 10,000 entrants.

SciFest’s goal is to help students develop research, problem solving, critical thinking and presentation skills, as well as an interest in STEM. Entries will be accepted across a range of scientific disciplines.

Overall winners from each regional STEM fair will go on to compete at a national final in November 2022. The winner of the SciFest National Final 2022 will represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2023 in the US. They will also be given a trophy.

The winner of last year’s national final, Clare Reidy, said she “loved every minute” of her experience at the fair and winning the final was “source of great pride” for her and her family.

Reidy, a student from Our Lady’s Bower school in Athlone, Co Westmeath was named SciFest STEM Champion 2021, for her innovative research project which explored cosmic radiation protection, investigating effective building materials for future exploration of Mars. She will represent Ireland at Regeneron ISEF in the US this May.

“SciFest enabled me to research something that intrigued me, and it helped sharpen the skills I needed to investigate it… I’d encourage students with an interest in STEM subjects to give SciFest a go because it will give you the tools to come up with ideas and solutions for real problems and existing issues,” Reidy said.

Dublin-based non-profit Teen Turn is involved in co-ordinating the programme at a national level. It works with young women and girls to encourage them into the STEM sector. Last year’s Teen Turn SciFest mentees included Orlaith Heaney and Elizabeth Byrne from Mount Saint Michael secondary school in Claremorris, Co Mayo. The two 15-year-olds created a website to make it easier for farmers to become more sustainable. Both Byrne and Heaney come from farming backgrounds.

Peri-Elkie Tiendioh, a 15-year-old student in Cork City’s Christ King Secondary School worked with Teen Turn to develop Forget-Me-Not, a medicine reminder app for people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Patients can also schedule an appointment with their local GP.

Teen Turn also mentored Limerick student Maha Shahzadi of Coláiste Nano Nagle. The 15-year-old developed Eataware, an app that helps visually impaired people shop independently for their groceries and track their dietary requirements. The app uses text, speech, audio, sensor alerts and picture technologies to enhance the everyday life of those who are visually impaired.

“I got guidance every step of the way and encouragement on the days things didn’t go to plan. From thinking scientifically to coding, time management and writing, Teen-Turn’s Project Squad has helped me gain countless skills that you wouldn’t learn in a traditional classroom,” Shahzadi said of her experience working with her mentors.

Shahzadi, Tiendioh, Heaney and Byrne all received high commendations for their projects last year. They will continue to work with their mentors at Teen Turn to develop their projects.

Sheila Porter, SciFest founder and CEO said she continued “to be staggered by the high standard of submissions” the team receive each year.

“We’re immensely proud of this competition and the opportunities it offers students. These kids are the doctors, scientists and innovators of tomorrow and we are calling on all students, regardless of their circumstance or current STEM abilities to join us for SciFest 2022,” she added.

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