SciFest – A Blueprint for International Science Fairs

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. Educator Academy 2005Phoenix, Arizona News Report “The Intel Educator Academy sparks an idea that leads to the setting up of a network of science fairs in Ireland” Team Ireland Educator Academy 2005 – Action Plan ‘Use third-level colleges to host regional science fairs’

3. Science Fairs – Ireland from 2005 to 2009 From 2 to17 Science fairs Total 600 Total 1200 Total 1520 Total 3240

4. How was this achieved? SciFest A Blueprint for International Science Fairs

5. 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. 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 SciFest – A Story of Success

7. Buy-in from Government, industry and education Locally based Centrally coordinated but workload divided One national coordinator Website www.scifest.ie Local coordinators in each third-level college Highly cost effective 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 Critical Success Factors

8. SciFest brings together Students Teachers Third-level Colleges Industry Ministry of Education (MoE) and Government MoE Industry Third-level Colleges Teachers Students The SciFest Project Knowledge Economy SciFest

9. 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) 1.Students

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

11. 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. 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 4. Industry

13. 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 5. Ministry of Education (MoE)

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.ie Website:www.scifest.ie • Links:

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

17. PROJECT REPORT BOOK • Title Page • Introduction • Background Research • Experimental Methods • Results • Conclusions and Recommendations • Acknowledgements • Appendices • References 2. ABSTRACT Project Report Is the viscosity of oil affected by temperature? Jessica Dee Mary Jones St Anne’s School Co Limerick 3. VISUAL DISPLAY A Completed Project Must Contain

18. Components of a SciFest Science Fair • Organising Committee • Third-level college staff – academic, administrative, technical + ‘Active’ Teacher/s • Funding and Sponsorship • Many science-based industries are anxious to support science • Budget • Judges • Industry and other third-level colleges • Guest Speaker/s • Exhibits and Hands-on Activities • Visits to Institute labs, demonstrations, ‘Science on Stage’…….. Event Promotion Workshops for teachers, newspaper reports,andevent posted on websites, e.g. www.science.ie, www.ista.ie, SciFest website, etc.

19. Sponsors

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

21. 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. 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 Judging at SciFest Marking Guidelines Score Sheets Judging

23.    SciFest Links to Cool Technology • Design and Discovery International – Project-based pre-engineering module designed by Intel Irelandfor 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. SCIFEST T H I R D L E V E L C O L L E G E S The SciFest Project – A Blueprint for International Science Fairs Project Blogger Discover Sensors Project I S E F National Science Fair IRELAND Science by Inquiry The Classroom Design & Discovery ROMANIA EGYPT Note: Interest from many countries in adopting the SciFest model FRANCE ITALY ETC SciFest Highly cost effective and internationally scalable model

25. 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! www.scifest.ie For further information contact: sheilax.m.porter@intel.com/sheilaporter@iol.ie

27. Background material

28. Abbreviations and website addresses • SciFest – One-day festival of science hosted in a third-level college (www.scifest.ie) • BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition – Ireland’s National Science Fair (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 Engineering • 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) • Discover Sensors – DSE project to promote investigations using sensors (www.discoversensors.ie) • Project Blogger – A DSE project providing a web space for students to create their own science blogs (www.projectblogger.ie) • Department of Education & Science (Ministry of Education (MoE) – (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) • 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) • Forfás -National policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation. (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) • ISTA – Irish Science Teachers’ Association (www.ista.ie) • STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

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

31. Science Fairs – Ireland 2005 Two science fairs – no local or regional fairs 1. Republic of Ireland – BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition • Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland Young Scientist Competition/ Seagate Young Innovators (Young Engineers for Britain)

32. Third level Colleges are Nationwide SciFest Nationwide 2009 Derry • Athlone • Belfast • Blanchardstown • Carlow • Cork • Derry • Dublin • Dundalk • Galway/Mayo • Letterkenny • Limerick • Sligo • Tallaght • Tipperary • Tralee • Waterford Letterkenny Belfast Northern Ireland Sligo Dundalk Republic of Ireland Dublin Tallaght Athlone Galway/Mayo Blanchardstown Carlow Limerick Tipperary Tralee Waterford Map of Ireland Cork