SciFest marked a very special milestone on Monday, 7 September, with the launch of the SciFest 20th Anniversary Impact Report at the Clock Tower in the Department of Education and Youth, Dublin.
The event brought together many of the people who have helped shape SciFest over the past two decades: students and alumni, teachers, regional coordinators, judges, partners, sponsors, friends and long-standing supporters.
At the heart of the celebration, appropriately, were the students. Zack O’Leary, Addison Carey, Mehret Flynn and Maura Moore-McCune who presented their projects to guests, demonstrating the curiosity, creativity and confidence that SciFest has sought to nurture since the very first fair in 2006.
The newly launched Impact Report, SciFest 2006–2026, tells the story of how an idea that began with just 170 students, 67 projects and 14 schools has grown into Ireland’s largest second-level STEM fair programme. Over the past 20 years, more than 145,000 students have participated, presenting over 63,500 projects at more than 1,400 SciFest fairs.
The celebration also provided an opportunity to reflect on what lies behind those numbers. SciFest is about giving young people the freedom to ask questions, investigate ideas that interest them, solve problems and discover what they are capable of achieving. It is also about ensuring that those opportunities are available to every student, regardless of background, gender, ability or circumstance.
A panel discussion brought together different voices from across the SciFest community to reflect on the impact the programme has had on students, teachers and STEM education and to look ahead to the next chapter.
From a single fair in 2006, SciFest offers students a free pathway from SciFest@School to regional SciFest@College fairs, the National Final and opportunities to represent Ireland internationally. Since 2012, 75 SciFest students have represented Ireland at 43 international STEM events across 10 countries, winning 46 awards at 27 major international competitions.
The launch was not only a celebration of the past 20 years, but also an opportunity to look to the future. As SciFest enters its third decade, our ambition is to reach even more young people, open up new opportunities and continue to ensure that every student has the chance to explore their ideas, experience STEM and discover where their curiosity might take them.
