SciFest – A Blueprint for International Science

Fairs Intel International Science and Engineering FairIntel International Science and Engineering Fair

10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA

Sheila PorterSciFest National CoordinatorDublin, Ireland

SciFest

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

SciFest

www.scifest.ie

Science Fairs – Ireland from 2005 to 2009

No. of science fairs

No. of

projects

No. of

students

2005Rep. of Ireland 1 500 ~ 1000

Northern Ireland

1100 ~ 200

2009Rep. of Ireland 15 ~ 1400 ~ 3000

Northern Ireland

2 ~ 120 ~ 240

From 2 to17 Science fairs

Total600

Total1200

Total1520

Total3240

SciFest

www.scifest.ie

How was this achieved?

A Blueprint for International Science Fairs

SciFest

SciFest

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

SciFest

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

SciFest

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

SciFest

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

SciF

es

t

Knowledge

Economy

Students

Teachers

Third-level Colleges

MoE

Industry

SciFest

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)

SciFest

www.scifest.ie

2. Teachers

• online support for teachers – 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

SciFest

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

SciFest

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

SciFest

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

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

The Website – www.scifest.ie

Links:

SciFest 2009 Media Centre Miscellaneous

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.ie

SciFest

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

SciFest

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 DeeMary Jones

St Anne’s SchoolCo Limerick

SciFest

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. JudgesIndustry and other third-level colleges

5. Guest Speaker/s

6. Exhibits and Hands-on ActivitiesVisits to Institute labs, demonstrations, ‘Science on Stage’……..

2. Funding and Sponsorship Many science-based industries are anxious to support science

3. Budget

SciFest

www.scifest.ie

SponsorsPlatinum Key stakeholders Intel Ireland

Irish Government

Level Cost Benefits

Gold €2500/

3,330 USD•Logo on website www.scifest.ie

•In each participating third-level college:oName of company included in the programme oTrophy presented engraved with company nameoCompany 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

SciFest

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

SciFest

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

SciFest

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 containingo Judging at SciFesto Marking Guidelineso Score Sheets

SciFest

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

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

FairIRELAND

ISEF

Discover Sensors Project

Project Blogger

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SciFest

Highly cost effective and internationally scalable model

Design

&

Discovery

SciFest

www.scifest.ie

Does the model work? YesScience Fairs in Ireland 2005 – 2009

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Nu

mb

er

No. of Projects

No. of Students

2005 – 2 Fairs

2009 – 17 Fairs

GO RAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAIBH

THANK YOU!

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

www.scifest.ie

SciFest

www.scifest.ie

Background material

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)

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

Educational Environment – Republic of Ireland3 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.

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

Year

No. of Projects entered for preliminary judging No. of projects accepted for fair

2007

2008

2009

1278

1416

1615

500

500

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

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

DerrySciFest Nationwide 2009

Map of Ireland