A Galway student has taken home the top prize at SciFest@TUS Athlone, one of Ireland’s largest regional science fairs for second-level students, held this week at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone Campus.
Michaela Gillooly, fifth year student at Glenamaddy Community School, took home the SciFest Best Project overall award for her investigation into the relationship between the menstrual cycle and female athletic performance.
A rugby player with a “big interest in sports”, Michaela’s idea for the project stemmed from her own experience of tracking the menstrual cycle to see if she, herself, noticed a big difference on the days when she had a match or was training.
“I felt I didn’t perform as well as I usually would, so I was like, right, yeah, I think there has to be something there,” Michaela said of the genesis of her SciFest@TUS Athlone project.
A determined student whose ultimate dream is to become a Home Economics and Biology teacher, Michaela also competed in last year’s SciFest@TUS Athlone competition, taking home a top award in a group category.
Congratulating Michaela on her achievement, her teacher Aoife Collins said, “She puts so much hard work into it. She’s done it all. She has owned this project, and I’m so delighted for her.”
A total of 380 students from across the Midlands and further afield from counties like Galway and Mayo competed in this year’s SciFest@TUS Athlone, showcasing their passion for and knowledge of science, engineering, technology, and maths.
More than 200 projects were on display, covering an array of scientific topics, including neuroplasticity, climate change, sustainable packaging.
Fionn Campbell from Moate Community School also enjoyed significant success, taking home the prize of SciFest Runner Up – Best Project and the EirGrid Cleaner Climate Award for his exploration of how the kinetic energy of road vehicles could help tackle Ireland’s energy crisis.
Other big category winners included Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, securing the gong for Best School in addition to 13 other notable awards, including the INTEL Technology Award and the Business Excellence Institute Award.
The prestigious Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award went to Dana Carney of Mount St Michael Secondary School in Clare Morris, Mayo, whose school scored a hat trick in the Junior Technology – Individual category, taking home the gold, silver and bronze.
The coveted SciFest Physics award went to Athlone Community College students Sean Sibindi, Mateusz Mroz, and Arnav Kothari for their project which looked at creating a mathematical model of the Sun.
Meanwhile, Tullamore College’s Lillian Murray scooped the top prize in the Regeneron Life Sciences Award category for her project looking at the addition of salicylic acid to grass plants as method to prevent them from rotting in waterlogged soil.
Overall SciFest@TUS Athlone winner Michaela Gillooly, will now go forward to compete at the SciFest National Final in November 2024 for a chance to named SciFest STEM Champion 2024 and represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
EirGrid Cleaner Climate awardee Fionn Campbell will also have a chance to compete for the top prize in the final in Dublin later this year, as will Boston Scientific Medical Devices category winner Dana Carney.
Congratulating the winners on their success, SciFest@TUS Athlone co-ordinator Dr Noreen Morris said, “Every year, I am continually impressed by the remarkable standard of research displayed in the entries, and this year is certainly no exception. The quality of research conducted by second-level students at SciFest@TUS Athlone truly showcases their unwavering passion for STEM.”
She continued, “It fills us with immense pride to participate in SciFest, an event that not only encourages students to delve deeper into STEM subjects but also fosters inclusivity and collaboration. As we celebrate the 18th anniversary of hosting SciFest@TUS Athlone, we reflect on the profound impact it has had in nurturing young minds and igniting their curiosity for scientific inquiry.”
Sheila Porter, SciFest founder and CEO, added, “SciFest is more than just an event: it is a platform where students not only showcase their STEM projects but also embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Through hands-on exploration, engaging discussions, and connections with mentors, role models and peers, SciFest inspires a generation of problem-solvers and innovators. With over 12,000 students participating annually and experiencing a remarkable growth rate of around 20%, SciFest is paving the way for a brighter, more innovative future for all.
“The increasing participation is thanks to the dedication of teachers, mentors, parents, coordinators in the third level colleges and our partners and sponsors, who continue to support us in inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers. We deeply appreciate their commitment.”
SciFest@TUS Athlone 2024 sponsors and partners include Enterprise Ireland, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Bimeda, Boston Scientific, EirGrid, Arran Chemical Company, NISO, Medtronic Foundation, Department of Education, Huawei, Regeneron, BEX Institute, Intel, Dawn Meats, Department of Foreign Affairs, ISTA, Gaisce The President’s Award, THEA, Esero, TechCentral.ie, iclasscms, IOP Institute of Physics, ISEF, TUS, Spectrum Signs and Seery’s Cash & Carry.