SciFest@College – Student Presentation
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
©SciFest Ltd
SciFest@College 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xdNAKW2AfU
What is SciFest?
SciFest is
a series of one-day science fairs open to all
second-level students
SciFest is
YOUR TOPIC, YOUR PROJECT, YOUR ACHIEVEMENT
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest is where………
You get to investigate a topic that really interests YOU
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest is where………
your hard work is recognised and you could win an award
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest is where………
you get to present your project and talk to experts from
academia and industry about your discoveries
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest is where ………..
you get the opportunity to see a real scientist in action, visit a
college’s laboratories and learn about the courses available in
the college
SciFest is where …..
you can exhibit your project, be awarded a certificate and have
fun with science
Fun
SciFest@College - Sample Programme
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
Who can enter SciFest?
SciFest is open to all second-level students
•
Age Categories
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•
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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 – all group members must be in
attendance at the exhibition)
Project Categories
•
•
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Physical Sciences
Life Sciences
Technology
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
The Website – www.scifest.ie
What you need to do today

Log onto www.scifest.ie

Read all the information given on the website especially the
‘Guidelines for Entrants’ and ‘Report Book and Presentation’

Download and print out an entry form

Make out a ‘things to do’ list

If doing a group project
- pick students you know you can work with
- work with somebody who lives near you or is in your class


Decide on a group leader – divide up the work- teamwork is
important
Arrange definite times to meet
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
Deciding on an Idea

Check out the SciFest website
www.scifest.ie ‘Project Ideas’

Talk to your parents, your teacher, your friends

Check out the Internet and the school library

Watch the news and read the newspaper

Have you a hobby?

Is there a particular area of science you are interested
in?

Write out the idea in your own words
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
Remember
YOU CAN DO IT
Brilliant
idea!!!
Ideas come when
you least expect
them !
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
Research and Brainstorm

Get a large sheet of paper and
brainstorm with your team

Make a shortlist of ‘best ideas’ Find out as much as
you can about the topic

What questions would you like to try to answer?

Can you find a mentor, i.e., someone from a company,
a hospital or a third level college who might be a
source of information and/or resources
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
Remember

Investigate only one variable

Keep all other factors constant

Have a control

Repeat the experiment a
number of times

Be prepared to change your
approach when necessary

Ensure that it is a fair test
Be Safe
Check that you are not planning any dangerous
experiments or using harmful equipment or chemicals
A Completed Project Must Contain
1. PROJECT REPORT BOOK
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Title Page
Introduction
Background Research
Experimental Methods
Results
Conclusions and Recommendations
Acknowledgements
Appendices
References
2. SUMMARY (included in Report Book)
Project Report
Is the viscosity of oil affected
by heat?
Jessica Dee
Mary Jones
Louise ward
St Anne’s School
Co Limerick
This is a short description of what your science project is
about. It should be no more than two typed pages in length
3. VISUAL DISPLAY
Should be bright, attractive, clear and concise
See website www.scifest.ie – Report Book and Presentation
SciFest – Science by inquiry in Action
State Problem
Research
Investigate
Analyse
Conclude
Present
• Look around, ask questions, identify a problem, state
a hypothesis
• Gather as much information about the topic as
possible
• Design and carry out experiments to test the
hypothesis; collect data
• Analyse the data, discuss the findings
• Come up with a possible solution to the original
problem
• Present findings at SciFest
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest – What the teachers and students are saying
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8zNKAFCa8s
s
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
GO RAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAIBH
THANK YOU!
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest M&M Activity
Let’s look at the data we have collected and
see what our conclusions are
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest M&M Activity
Group
Total Number of Number of
M&Ms in bag
Green M&Ms
Number of
Brown M&Ms
Number of
Yellow M&Ms
Number of
Orange M&Ms
Number of
Blue M&Ms
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Total
Average
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd
SciFest M&M Activity
Conclusions
Sheila Porter, CEO, SciFest Ltd
© SciFest Ltd