Sheila Porter SciFest National Coordinator March 2008 Student Presentation

What is SciFest? A festival of science open to all second-level students which encourages a love of science through enquiry- based learning and provides an opportunity for students to display their scientific discoveries

Who Can Enter SciFest? SciFest is open to all second-level students Age Category: Age Category:  Junior - 1 st Year and 2 nd Year  Intermediate - 3 rd Year and 4 th Year  Senior - 5 th Year and 6 th 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

Sample Programme 9.00 Registration and Set-up 9.45 Opening Judging Lunch for Competitors and Teachers Science Talks – one of: A) “CSI Dublin - Forensic Science in Ireland” Liam Fleury, Forensic Science Laboratory B) “The Origin and Fate of the Universe” Noel Gorman, ITT Dublin C) “Bugs – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” Mary Costello, ITT Dublin Science Demonstrations in Laboratories Prize giving ceremony Closing Address Take Down Posters

SciFest IT Tallaght  Local celebrity invited to perform opening ceremony Pat Rabbitte TD 2007 – Dr Éanna Ní Lamhna

Awards Cash awards Prizes Trophies

Students enjoying lunch Students’ demo-Robotics And more Certificates SciFest 2008 This is to certify that Ann Jones From St Mary’s School has entered and presented a project in SciFest 2008 Athlone Institute of Technology

New Award for 2008 Discover Sensors Award Sponsored by the Discover Sensors Project ( School Prize: Trophy Student Prize: €100 (Group €150) Teacher Prize Laptop One award may be presented at each Institute of Technology for the best project in any area of science or technology where the investigation involves substantial use of one or more digital sensors. Discover Sensors Award

What You Need to do Today  Make out a ‘things to do’ list  If doing a 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 important  Arrange definite times to meet  Log onto  Read all the information given on the website especially the ‘Guidelines for Entrants’ and ‘Report Book and Presentation’  Download and print out an entry form

 Check out the SciFest website ‘Project Ideas’ Deciding on an Idea  Talk to your parents, your teacher, your friends  Check out the Internet and the school 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 Ideas come when you least expect them ! Brilliant idea!!!

 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 Research and Brainstorm

 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  Ensure that it is a fair test Remember Check that you are not planning any dangerous experiments or using harmful equipment or chemicals Be Safe

3. VISUAL DISPLAY Should be bright, attractive, clear and concise A Completed Project Must Contain 2.SUMMARY 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 See website – Report Book and Presentationwww.scifest.ie 1.PROJECT REPORT BOOK  Title Page  Introduction  Background Research  Experimental Methods  Results  Conclusions and Recommendations  Acknowledgements  Appendices  References Project Report Is the viscosity of oil affected by heat? Jessica Dee Mary Jones Louise ward St Anne’s School Co Limerick

The Website - The Website -  SciFest Guidelines for entrants - Guidelines for entrants - Entry Forms - Entry Forms - Report Book and Presentation - Report Book and Presentation  Transition Year Module ‘Science by Inquiry’  Project Ideas (12 ideas on the website)  Exhibition Dates and Contacts  Links and Resources  Media Centre  and more ………………………….. Closing date for receipt of entries is Friday 14 March 2008

Exhibition Dates Institute of Technology SciFest 2008 Exhibition Date Institute of Technology SciFest 2008 Exhibition Date AthloneThursday 1 May SligoFriday 25 April CarlowWednesday 30 April TallaghtFriday 2 May CorkTuesday 29 April TipperaryThursday 8 May DublinThursday 1 May WaterfordTuesday 29 April LimerickThursday 1 May

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