GMIT SciFest to exhibit 50 exciting projects by secondary school pupils

Secondary school pupils from counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Clare and Tipperary will exhibit a range of exciting science projects in GMIT Galway on Thursday, 15 May, as part of the 2014 Young Scientist SciFest competition.

SciFest is an all-island science competition where second-level students showcase their science, technology and maths projects at a series of one-day science fairs held in the 14 regional Institutes of Technology and the University of Ulster. 



In GMIT Galway, over 100 students will exhibit 50 projects and posters on a range of topics in the life and physical sciences, and technology disciplines, such as:

‘The Effects of Nitrates in Beetroot Juice on Athletic Performance’ – Dominican College, Galway

 ‘A theory on the astro-biological inhabitants of our solar system’ - Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Claregalway

‘Which fruit is the best source of power’ – Presentation College, Headford

‘To investigate how to influence our dreams’ - St Patrick’s College, Killala, Co Mayo

‘How music levels affect your concentration – in search of the perfect volume’ – St Mary’s College, Galway

 ‘Is yawning contagious’ – Yeats College, Galway

‘Does being left or right brained influence your interests’ – Meán Scoil Muire Gan Smál

‘Asthma in students’ lives’  - St Brigid’s Vocational School, Loughrea

‘Redheads – are they more likely to be hypermobile’ – Seamount College, Kinvara

… and many more.



The winners from each science fair will go on to compete at the national final in November. The SciFest programme is primarily sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland’s Discover Science & Engineering Programme and Intel Ireland. It is also supported by a number of other companies and organisations.



GMIT SciFest is organised by the GMIT School of Science and the GMIT Schools Liaison Office. Each school project team will be interviewed by a panel of scientific and engineering experts from GMIT.  A preview of what to expect at the event in GMIT is available to view on GMIT’s YouTube channel:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkSVgbl8K6o&list=PL8UselBXzIB43wq6X_fcQkqqqZBsIMVQ7

Dr Des Foley, Head of the GMIT School of Science, says there is something to interest everybody at this year’s science fair. “We are very pleased to welcome secondary school students and their teachers to GMIT for this exciting event.  It is always a joy to see and listen to young people explain their projects and answer

questions in such a knowledgeable manner.”



GMIT Schools Liaison Officer, Dr Carina Ginty, says “The SciFest competition is an excellent public opportunity for pupils to showcase and present their scientific investigations and get feedback from experts in the field. It encourages secondary students to take an interest in, and develop a love for science, technology, engineering and maths through active collaborative inquiry-based learning.



2013 saw a record number of students and schools taking part in SciFest; 5,368 students exhibited 2,262 projects in schools and Institutes of Technology across the country.



The SciFest 2013 national final winner was Paul Clarke from Raheny, Dublin; he solved a mathematical problem that has been baffling mathematicians since the 1930s. His discovery has taken us a step closer to solving the Travelling Salesman Problem, which has applications in business models including computer routing and networking. Paul also won the top award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2014.”

Sheila Porter, SciFest CEO, says: “Since SciFest was launched nationwide six years ago it has gone from strength to strength. I am continually amazed by the passion and dedication demonstrated by the students. SciFest is a celebration of STEM subjects. It encourages students to push the boundaries of the classroom, use their knowledge of science, investigate and be creative in their projects. The achievement of these students is an inspiration to us all and is a tribute to them and to the hard work and support of their teachers.”

The event will run from 9am to 1pm on Thursday 15 May in the main campus in GMIT.  For further information, contact the GMIT Schools Liaison Office slo@gmit.ie

See: www.scifest.ie for further information.