SciFest – A Blueprint for International Science Fairs Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA 10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA Sheila Porter SciFest National Coordinator Dublin, Ireland
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SciFest – A Blueprint for International Science Fairs Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 10-16 May 2009, Reno, Nevada, USA Sheila Porter.
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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.
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