1. SciFest – A Blueprint for International Science Fairs Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA Sheila Porter SciFest National Coordinator Dublin, Ireland

2. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Educator Academy 2005 Phoenix, Arizona Team Ireland Educator Academy 2005 – Action Plan ‘Use third-level colleges to host regional science fairs’ “The Intel Educator Academy sparks an idea that leads to the setting up of a network of science fairs in Ireland” News Report

3. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Science Fairs – Ireland from 2005 to 2009 No. of science fairs No. of projects No. of students 2005 Rep. of Ireland1500~ 1000 Northern Ireland 1 100~ 200 2009 Rep. of Ireland15~ 1400~ 3000 Northern Ireland 2~ 120~ 240 From 2 to17 Science fairs Total 600 Total 1200 Total 1520 Total 3240

4. SciFes t www.scifest.ie How was this achieved? A Blueprint for International Science Fairs SciFest

5. www.scifest.ie SciFest Action Plan Action Plan To set up local one-day science fairs to be hosted in third-level colleges The fairs would be open to all second level students (all entries accepted and no entry fee) Each fair would include a competition and exhibition of projects, a selection of science talks, science demonstrations in the college’s laboratories and a prize-giving ceremony Aims To encourage a love of science, technology, engineering and maths through active, collaborative, inquiry-based learning To provide a forum for students at local/regional level to present and display their scientific investigations To act as a feeder fair to national and ISEF affiliated fairs

6. SciFes t www.scifest.ie SciFest – A Story of Success May 2005 – Educator Academy, Phoenix, Arizona – Team Ireland Action Plan – ‘Use third-level colleges to host science fairs’ May 2006 – First SciFest science fair piloted in a Dublin third-level college April 2007 – Government funds full-time coordinator; SciFest launched nationwide May 2007 – Second SciFest takes place in a third-level college in Dublin April/May 2008 – SciFest takes place in 9 third-level colleges April/May 2009 – SciFest takes place in 15 third-level colleges

7. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Critical Success Factors Buy-in from Government, industry and education Locally based Centrally coordinated but workload divided o One national coordinator o Website www.scifest.ie o Local coordinators in each third-level college Highly cost effective o Each third-level college covers the cost of hosting the event in their own college and canvasses for sponsorship to help cover running costs Easily scalable

8. SciFes t www.scifest.ie The SciFest Project SciFest brings together 1.Students 2.Teachers 3.Third-level Colleges 4.Industry 5.Ministry of Education (MoE) and Government SciFest Knowledge Economy Students Teachers Third-level Colleges MoE Industr y

9. SciFes t www.scifest.ie 1. Students develop an interest in science through inquiry and hands-on activities grow in confidence by exhibiting in a small student-friendly environment of all abilities and backgrounds are encouraged to participate, lowering barriers and bringing the talents of diverse populations into the innovation pipeline engage in activities that link science, maths, engineering and technology (STEM) to their everyday lives and to society visit their local third-level college and view the facilities available (majority of students exhibiting are interested in STEM) are encouraged to develop their entry for the following year’s National Science Fair (affiliated to ISEF)

10. SciFes t www.scifest.ie 2. Teachers online support for teachers – www.scifest.ie:www.scifest.ie o science by inquiry module o additional instructional materials to help teachers implement inquiry-based strategies o contact database of experienced teachers professional development for teachers O science-by-inquiry shoptalks SciFest facilitates a community of educators with similar goals and ideals and provides: Science by Inquiry Module science fair venues where teachers can meet other teachers and their students can display their investigations

11. SciFes t www.scifest.ie 3. Third-level Colleges SciFest forms links between second- and third-level education institutions encourages students to visit their local third-level college and view the facilities available increases the number taking science at third-level (majority of students exhibiting are interested in science) spreads the cost and workload of organising science fairs Once SciFest is established each third-level college will canvass for sponsorship in their own area and be able to sustain their own fair

12. SciFes t www.scifest.ie 4. Industry SciFest facilitates collaboration with local schools and provides an insight into educational structures and student standards promotes corporate social responsibility and demonstrates leadership and innovation in education enhances industry’s reputation with government and education providers demonstrates industry’s commitment to STEM strengthens industry’s links with third-level colleges promoting science and engineering pipeline highlights applications of research to students promotes a company’s brand among young people / marketing opportunity

13. SciFes t www.scifest.ie 5. Ministry of Education (MoE) SciFest is aligned with MoE science curriculum for schools emphasising hands-on activities and science by inquiry promotes research-based and experiential learning gets education out of the classroom and into the real world gives students different perspectives and understanding relevant to the workforce – opportunities to develop other skills like time management, team working, communications skills, project management, etc. supports government strategy to build partnership and understanding between education and enterprise

14. Sample SciFest Programme 9.00 Registration and Set-up 9.45 Opening 10.00 Judging 12.15 Lunch for Competitors and Teachers 13.00 Science Talks – one of: 1. “CSI Dublin - Forensic Science in Ireland” Liam Fleury, Forensic Science Laboratory 2. “The Origin and Fate of the Universe” Noel Gorman, ITT Dublin 3. “Bugs – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” Mary Costello, ITT Dublin 14.00 Science Demonstrations in Laboratories 15.00 Prize-giving Ceremony 15.40 Closing Address 15.40 Take Down Posters

15. The Website – www.scifest.iewww.scifest.ie Links: SciFest 2009Media CentreMiscellaneous  Entry Forms  National Award Winners 2008  Sponsors and Special Awards  Guidelines for Entrants  Photographs and News Reports  Project Ideas  Report Book and Presentation  Resources  Exhibition Dates and Contacts Student Module  Support for Teachers  Discover Sensors Award  Science by Inquiry  Project Blogger Website: www.scifest.iewww.scifest.ie

16. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Who can enter SciFest? Project Type Individual Group – max. 3 students per group Project Category Physical Sciences Life Sciences Technology Age Category Junior – 1st Year and 2nd Year Intermediate – 3rd Year and 4th Year Senior – 5th Year and 6th Year SciFest is open to all second-level students

17. SciFes t www.scifest.ie A Completed Project Must Contain 3. VISUAL DISPLAY 2. ABSTRACT 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 temperature? Jessica Dee Mary Jones St Anne’s School Co Limerick

18. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Components of a SciFest Science Fair 7.Event Promotion Workshops for teachers, newspaper reports, and event posted on websites, e.g. www.science.ie, www.ista.ie, SciFest website, etc. 1.Organising Committee Third-level college staff – academic, administrative, technical + ‘Active’ Teacher/s 4.Judges Industry and other third-level colleges 5.Guest Speaker/s 6.Exhibits and Hands-on Activities Visits to Institute labs, demonstrations, ‘Science on Stage’…….. 2.Funding and Sponsorship Many science-based industries are anxious to support science 3.Budget

19. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Sponsors Platinum Key stakeholdersIntel Ireland Irish Government LevelCostBenefits Gold €2500/ 3,330 USD Logo on website www.scifest.iewww.scifest.ie In each participating third-level college: oName of company included in the programme oTrophy presented engraved with company name oCompany representative may present trophy oCompany may provide speaker Silver €1000/ 1,330 USD Name of the company in bold font on website Name of company included in programme of each participating third-level college Bronze €200/ 266 USD Name of the company on the SciFest website and in the programme of at least one third-level college

20. SciFes t www.scifest.ie SciFest Expenditure 1.Best Project Award – Intel Ireland 2.Runner-Up Best Project Award – Abbott Ireland 3.Best Communicator Award – BT Ireland 4. Discover Sensors Award Trophy, €100 voucher (€150 for student group). Laptop for mentoring teacher 2009 – Each third-level college supplied with 4 trophies One trophy funded by the Discover Sensors Project Three trophies funded by Nationwide SciFest Total Cost ~ €3,500/4,670 USD

21. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Third-Level College Budget Exhibition stands: Main expense is hire of exhibition stands 70 stands approx €2,000/2,660 USD Prizes: Many prizes awarded – multiples of tokens worth €25/33 USD Prizes, e.g. robots, donated Postage: Three mailings per school 1. Information about science fair 2. Acceptance of entry, display details and programme 3. Follow-up letter Lunch: For exhibitors, teachers and judges – optional Token thank-you gift for judges: e.g. pen with college logo

22. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Judging September 2008 Compiled database of volunteer judges 60 judges from academia and industry on database to date To improve and standardise judging Compiled Judges’ Information Pack containing o Judging at SciFest o Marking Guidelines o Score Sheets

23. SciFes t www.scifest.ie SciFest Links to Cool Technology    Design and Discovery International – Project-based pre- engineering module designed by Intel Ireland for 15 – 16 year old students Project Blogger - Web space for students to create their own science blogs and share their experiences in science with other students Discover Sensors – Project which supports the use of sensor technology in hands-on scientific investigations by Junior Science students. Cutting Edge Technology - lab demonstrations in third level colleges introduce second level students to cutting edge technology, research and development

24. The SciFest Project – A Blueprint for International Science Fairs Note: Interest from many countries in adopting the SciFest model Science by Inquiry The Classroom National Science Fair IRELAND ISEFISEF Discover Sensors Project Project Blogger SCIFEST THIRDLEVELCOLLEGESTHIRDLEVELCOLLEGES ROMANIA EGYPT FRANCE ITALY ETC SciFest Highly cost effective and internationally scalable model Design & Discovery

25. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Does the model work? Yes Science Fairs in Ireland 2005 – 2009 2005 – 2 Fairs 2009 – 17 Fairs

26. GO RAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAIBH THANK YOU! For further information contact: sheilax.m.porter@intel.com/sheilaporter@iol.ie www.scifest.ie

27. SciFes t www.scifest.ie Background material

28. Abbreviations and website addresses SciFest – One-day festival of science hosted in a third-level college (www.scifest.ie)www.scifest.ie BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition – Ireland’s National Science Fair (www.btyoungscientist.ie)www.btyoungscientist.ie Design and Discovery – Project based pre-engineering module designed by Intel Ireland for 15 – 16 year old students (www.skoool.ie ). Click on Teachers’ tab and then Engineeringwww.skoool.ie DSE – Discover Science and Engineering – an integrated national science awareness programme developed in association with DES, FÁS and Engineers Ireland. Operated by Forfás (www.discover-science.ie)www.discover-science.ie Discover Sensors – DSE project to promote investigations using sensors (www.discoversensors.ie)www.discoversensors.ie Project Blogger – A DSE project providing a web space for students to create their own science blogs (www.projectblogger.ie)www.projectblogger.ie Department of Education & Science (Ministry of Education (MoE) – (www.education.ie)www.education.ie

29. Abbreviations and website addresses 2 SLSS – Second Level Support Service – Department of Education & Science- supports the professional development of teachers in second level schools (www.slss.ie)www.slss.ie  JSSS – Junior Science Support Service – Department of Education & Science – offers school based support, staff development programmes, regional cluster based support and modular courses (www.juniorscience.ie)www.juniorscience.ie Forfás -National policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation. (www.forfas.ie)www.forfas.ie HETAC - Higher Education and Training Award Council – qualifications awarding body for third-level educational and training institutions outside the university sector. HETAC also sets and monitors standards at all levels of higher education and training up to PhD level (www.hetac.ie)www.hetac.ie ISTA – Irish Science Teachers’ Association (www.ista.ie)www.ista.ie STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

30. Educational Environment – Republic of Ireland 3 levels: Primary: 480,000 pupils Age level: 5 – 12 years Duration:Junior infants 8 years Senior infants Classes 1 – 6 Secondary (Post-primary): 340,000 students Age level: 12 – 18 years Duration:Years 1 – 3 6 years Transition Year Years 5 – 6 Third Level: 138,000 students 2. 3. 1.

31. Science Fairs – Ireland 2005 Held in Dublin in January each year. 44 years in existence. Standard very high. ISEF affiliated Number of projects entered for preliminary judging Maximum of 500 projects accepted each year for exhibition Nearly 2/3 of projects not accepted due to lack of exhibition space Financial support from MoE and substantial commercial sponsorship YearNo. of Projects entered for preliminary judging No. of projects accepted for fair 2007 2008 2009 1278 1416 1615 500 1. Republic of Ireland – BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Two science fairs – no local or regional fairs 2.Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland Young Scientist Competition/ Seagate Young Innovators (Young Engineers for Britain) Held in Belfast in June each year. Standard very high. ISEF affiliated Entries, mainly from Northern Ireland but an increasing number of students entering from the Republic 2008 Number of entries – 34 science + 65 engineering projects Mainly supported commercially Regional fair for the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA) CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) Awards held in London in February

32. Third level Colleges are Nationwide Blanchardstown Republic of Ireland Tipperary Letterkenny Tralee Cork Waterford Limerick Galway/Mayo Sligo Carlow Dundalk Athlone Northern Ireland Dublin Tallaght 1.Athlone 2.Belfast 3.Blanchardstown 4.Carlow 5.Cork 6.Derry 7.Dublin 8.Dundalk 9.Galway/Mayo 10.Letterkenny 11.Limerick 12.Sligo 13.Tallaght 14.Tipperary 15.Tralee 16.Waterford Belfast Derry SciFest Nationwide 2009 Map of Ireland