SciFest

Sheila Porter, SciFest, Ireland ISEF Educator Academy 2012, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 13-18

Establishing and Maintaining a

Network of Science Fairs

‘A scalable and exportable model’

Educator Academy 2005 Phoenix, Arizona

Action Plan Ireland

‘Use third-level colleges to host regional science fairs’

Action Plan Ireland Accomplished

SciFest – network of science fairs established at local,

regional and national level

Over 14 000 students have exhibited at SciFest science

fairs since 2006

Educator Academy 2012 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

SciFest – Educator Academy Story of Success

The Growth of SciFest 2005 - 2012

Year

Number

Year  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total

Projects 67 73 680 836 1097 1423 1795 5971

Students 170 220 1612 1980 2646 3419 4216 14263

Number of students and projects 2006 – 2012

06 07 08 09 10 11 120

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

ProjectsStudents

Founded by Sheila Porter & piloted in a 3rd level college 2006

Second pilot in 3rd level college 2007

Launched nationwide & hosted by nine 3rd level colleges 2008

Hosted by fifteen 3rd level colleges (SciFest@College) 2009

2 new levels of participation introduced:

National Science Fair (SciFest@Intel)

Regional Science Fairs (SciFest@College)

School-based local science fairs (SciFest@School)

2011

Timeline – Development of SciFest

SciFest now established and operating at three levels2012

SciFest 2012

Science fairs hosted by 15 third-level

colleges (Universities and Institutes of

Technology)

REGIONAL SciFest@College

Schools organize their own in-house

SciFest science fairLOCAL

SciFest@School

Best Project Award winners from each

regional venue compete at finals – one

project selected to represent Ireland at

ISEF

NATIONAL SciFest@Intel

2012 – SciFest affiliated to ISEF

SciFest@Intel winners compete at ISEF

INTERNATIONAL SciFest@ISEF

Open to all second-level schools

Online SciFest STEM fairs toolkit

Resources available to registered schools:

o Certificate of participation for each student

o SciFest promotional giveaways

Representative from SciFest visits on day of event

Innovation – Sharing Expertise:

o Panel of experienced retired teachers recruited to support

event, to judge projects, etc.

LOCAL SciFest@School

SciFest@College REGIONAL

One day science fairs hosted by 15 third-level colleges

Open to all second-level schools

SciFest@College

In each third-level college an organising committee is set up

An organising committee ideally consists of:

o Regional coordinator

o Third-level college staff – administrative, academic, technical

o ‘Active’ teacher/s from local schools

Organising Committee: College staff – administrative, academic and technical

Judges’ Database:

o Third-level colleges use a number of in-house staff as

judges

o Each third-level college also has access to a national

database of volunteer judges – over 60 judges from

academia and industry on database to date

Standardising Judging

Judges’ Information Pack containing:

o Judging at SciFest

(How to ask the right questions)

o Science and Technology project rubrics

SciFest@College - JUDGING REGIONAL

Downloadable from the websiteScience-by-Inquiry Booklet

Entry forms

Guidelines for entrants:

oProject report book

oVisual display & oral presentation

Sponsors & special awards

Volunteer support team of teachers

SciFest@College – ONLINE RESOURCES REGIONAL

SciFest provides each of the 15 venues with 9 trophies funded by sponsors from academia and industry

Awards given for best project / runner-up / communication / chemistry / maths / energy / space / use of data loggers / biology

Category awards supplied by college

SciFest@College – Awards REGIONAL

Sponsored by Intel in association with Young Scientists Tanzania AIM – To provide opportunities for Irish students to work cooperatively

with students in Africa on global issues relating to sustainability, e.g.

food, water, energy, etc.

New Award introduced in 2012

SciFest Global Citizenship & Sustainability Award

SciFest@Intel NATIONAL

SciFest affiliated to ISEF in 2012

Celebration of Excellence in Science and Launch of following year’s

SciFest takes place in Intel each October

Each of the Best Project Award winners presented with an Intel

Excellence in STEM medal

Best Project Award winners from each of the 15 regional venues

compete for Grand Award – to represent Ireland at ISEF

SciFest Grand Award Winners 2012

Ciarán Cannon TD, Minister of State for

Training and Skills at the Dept of Education and

Skills with Ruairi O’Neill and Eoghan Flynn

SciFest is primarily funded by Discover Science and Engineering

(government body)

Corporate support is provided by Intel Ireland in collaboration with a

variety of other corporate sponsors, e.g. Abbott, BT,

PharmaChemical Ireland, Dairymaster Ireland, Ericsson

SciFest regional fairs are hosted by third-level colleges

SciFest links industry, government and academia

Effective Collaboration SciFest

SciFest – The Key Stakeholders

1. Government

2. Industry

3. Third-level

Colleges

4. Second-level

Schools

Third-level colleges

Government Industry

Second-level schools

4

21

SciFest

Third-level colleges

3

1. GovernmentDepartment of Education and Skills (DES)

SciFest

Supports government strategy to build partnerships and

understanding between education and enterprise

Supports DES science curriculum inquiry-based approach to

teaching & learning of science

Supports Project Maths

(new maths curriculum)

SciFest

Encourages skills to support

knowledge-based economy

2. Industry

SciFest

Strengthens industry’s links with third-level

colleges

Provides insight into educational structures and student standards

Facilitates collaboration with

local schools

SciFest

Promotes science and engineering

pipeline

Provides marketing

opportunity

Promotes corporate social

responsibility

3. Second-level Schools (students)

SciFest

Enables students to grow in confidence by exhibiting in a small student-friendly

environment

Encourages an interest in science

through inquiry and hands-on activities

Gives all students the opportunity to

participate in a science fair

Links science to students’ everyday lives and society

Lowers barriers,bringing the talents of

diverse populations into the innovation pipeline

SciFest

3. Second-level Schools (teachers)

SciFest

Promotes a sense of community and a

feeling of ownership

Supports school visits by SciFest representatives

Provides resources to help teachers implement inquiry-based strategies

Facilitates a community of educators with similar

goals and ideals

Provides support for teachers SciFest

4. Third-level Colleges

SciFest

Links second and third-level education

institutions

Encourages collaboration with

local schools

Links third-level colleges and

industry

Encourages students to continue with their study of science into

third-level

SciFest

Encourages students to visit their local third-

level college and view the facilities and courses available

Website www.scifest.ieOne website controlled by the project manager

SciFest - A Scalable Model

All second-level schools – Students and Teachers

Judges

Websitewww.scifest.ie

One Project Manager

SciFest@College SciFest@IntelSciFest@School

SciFest

Partners and Sponsors15 Third-level colleges (15 Regional Coordinators), Industry, Government

SciFest – Critical Success Factors

1. Easily scalable model

2. Centrally coordinated but workload divided:

• One project manager

• Regional coordinators (volunteers) in each third-level college

3. One website www.scifest.ie

4. Locally based, sense of community, feeling of ownership

5. Open to students of all ability and all entries accepted

6. Highly cost effective:

• Partially funded from National SciFest sponsors

• Each third-level college covers cost of hosting the event in their own

college and canvasses for sponsorship to help cover running costs

7. Buy-in from Government, industry and education

Dare to Dream

• 4k participants

• National fair +15

regional + 12 school-

based fairs

• Continuing to grow

• Developing brand

• Supports national

science and maths

curricula

• Mass participation

• Multiple 3rd level colleges &

schools engaged

• Well known national brand

• Easily scalable model

adopted by other countries

• Working closely with the

Dept of Education & Skills

and National Council for

Curriculum and Assessment

• Low cost high ROI model

Today The Future

SciFest – Growth Proposal

Sheila Porter, SciFest, Ireland ISEF Educator Academy 2012, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 13-18

Recruit new partners to deliver the goal

A coalition of equal partners shaping, funding, co-owning the brand/product and providing the expertise to enable the SciFest of the future

Partners with an equal passion for science and an interest in promoting the 21st century skills required to enable industry and provide jobs

Organise by region / geography

SciFest 2010 – The Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joswpwJ0H8k

Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible

St Francis of Assisi 1182-1226

GO RAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAIBH

THANK YOU!

For further information contact: sheilax.m.porter@intel.com

www.scifest.ie

SciFest

Sheila Porter, SciFest, Ireland ISEF Educator Academy 2012, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 13-18

Additional Information

Educational Environment – Republic of Ireland

3 levels:

First level: 510,000 pupils

Age level: 5 – 12 years

Duration: Junior infants

8 years Senior infants

Classes 1 – 6

Second level: 356,000 students

Age level: 12 – 18 years

Duration: Junior Cycle (Years 1 – 3)

6 years Transition Year

Senior Cycle (Years 5 – 6)

Third Level: 162,000 students

2.

3.

1.

Other Science Fairs in Ireland

• Held in Dublin in January each year. 48 years in existence. Standard very high. ISEF affiliated

• More than 1700 one-page project proposals submitted each year

• 550 projects accepted for exhibition

• Financial support from Department of Education and Skills and substantial commercial

sponsorship

• 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

• Number of entries – Approx 40 science + 65 engineering projects

• Mainly supported commercially

• Regional fair for the Big Bang held in London in March

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)

SciFest@College 2012 Venues

1. Athlone

2. Blanchardstown

3. Carlow

4. Cork

5. Derry

6. Dublin

7. Dundalk

8. Galway/Mayo

9. Letterkenny

10. Limerick

11. Sligo

12. Tallaght

13. Tipperary

14. Tralee

15. Waterford

Testimonials“It is the inclusiveness of SciFest and the encouragement of all participants that sets SciFest apart. It recognises how important it is to build a rapport with students across a diverse range of demographic backgrounds. SciFest also puts heavy emphasis on positive encouragement and it is a really lovely accessible day out, a great resource which should be supported.”

Jennifer Dixon, Science Teacher, St David’s CBS, Artane

“SciFest is a fantastic example of industry, the education sector and government partnering together to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). The 34% increase in participation in last year’s competition is a clear sign that SciFest is going from strength-to-strength and reflects the growing interest among students in pursuing STEM related courses at third level.”

Ciaran Canon TD, Minister of State for Training and Skills at the Dept of Education and Skills

“Abbott sponsors SciFest because it inspires future scientists in Ireland, engages our employees and aligns with our business. It is a valued partnership."

Katherine Jensen CSR Manager Abbott

“It was an experience I will never forget. I learned a lot that I wouldn’t have in school. Everybody was friendly and the judges were nice. I had a brilliant time and would love to participate again.“

Student Dublin IT

SciFest Budget

Total annual budget 2012 – under $250,000

Breakdown

Website

Promotional goods

Project Manager

Trophies

Grant to each 3rd level college

Travel expenses

PR

Printing