Westmeath post-primary students are encouraged to get their entries in quickly for this year’s SciFest ahead of the deadline of next Friday March 12.
Last year, Westmeath students Sebastian Ryan, David Byrne, and Conor Flynn from Marist College, Athlone received Intel Excellence in Science Medals for their project entitled ‘What materials work best in a sandbag for blocking floodwaters?’. Entry forms for SciFest 2010 are downloadable from the website, www.scifest.ie
SciFest is a national festival of science organised regionally in collaboration with the Institutes of Technology. It is open to all second level students. The aim is to encourage a love of science through project-based learning and to provide more opportunities for students to present and display the results of their scientific investigations.
The SciFest initiative is jointly funded by Intel and Discover Science and Engineering, and is supported by a number of other partners including BT, Dairymaster, Abbott Ireland and the Institutes of Technology.
As part of the partnership with Discover Science and Engineering, a Discover Sensors Award will be presented at each regional event to a project which demonstrates a high level of application of investigative science methodologies. This year will also see the introduction of an additional category for ‘Highly Commended’ students.
Project Blogger will also be an integral part of the competition again this year. Project Blogger was added as an online element to last year’s competition, and allows students to create individual blogs to record their SciFest entries and share their experiments.
Stephanie O’Neill, Discover Science and Engineering, said, “I would encourage Westmeath students to get involved in the SciFest competition. Students of all abilities and backgrounds can experience the magic of science and technology whilst having fun and competing for their community on a national level.”
Please visit www.scifest.ie for further information and for entry forms ahead of the deadline of March 12. Projects are not due for submission until the end of April.
