SciFest@College 2026 got off to a flying start at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Moylish on 21 April, marking the beginning of another exciting season of STEM exploration and innovation. Events continued on 22 April at TUS Athlone and TUS Thurles, followed by SETU Carlow on 23 April. In total, SciFest@College will take place across 15 regional venues, concluding on 17 June at St Mary’s College in Derry.
This year is particularly special as SciFest celebrates its 20th Anniversary. To mark this milestone, a special 20th Anniversary Award is being presented at each venue. Also, for the first time ever, a Social Science Award is being introduced, reflecting the growing breadth and diversity of projects being showcased at SciFest.
To mark the 20th anniversary and recognise the support of SciFest@College and each college’s commitment to STEM education, a special thank-you trophy is being presented to regional coordinators at every venue.
The opening days have already highlighted the energy and enthusiasm that define SciFest@College events, with a fantastic atmosphere at each venue and an impressive range of innovative and creative projects on display. A key feature of SciFest@College is the opportunity for students to engage directly with others about their work. SciFest is not solely focused on competition. The emphasis is on encouraging curiosity, creativity and a love of learning. The originality and quality of ideas presented by students continue to impress year after year.
At TUS Moylish, First Year student Heidi McInerney from Coláiste Chiaráin investigated whether dog breed affects toy preference. Her work was carried out in a very scientific manner and presented with great enthusiasm. As she is only in First Year, this is just the beginning, and she will no doubt be back again next year. Also, from Coláiste Chiaráin, Fifth Year student Miles Bueno, a regular participant, explored the concept of a functional third thumb, examining its design, logistics and practical applications.
At TUS Athlone, Transition Year students Anna Kinahan and Ellen McHugh from Our Lady’s Bower addressed the issue of lamb mortality due to hypothermia. They developed a prototype wearable jacket for lambs, incorporating sensors to monitor air and body temperature, linked to an app to alert farmers when intervention is needed. Also in Athlone, First Year students Grace Hallissy and Lexie Grady from Moate Community School explored a biodegradable alternative to traditional floral oasis using sheep’s wool, offering a simple but effective approach to reducing microplastic pollution.
At SETU Carlow, Transition Year students Aradhana Prasanna and Qiuyan Ye from Avondale Community School investigated the impact of music on plant growth. Through repeated controlled experiments, they found that plants exposed to lively music showed improved growth compared to those exposed to more sombre music. Alannah Doye and Emily Alexander from the same school examined the effects of doomscrolling on cognitive performance. Their findings showed a clear decline in test performance following extended periods of continuous scrolling.
SciFest is about much more than winning. It provides students with a platform to be heard, to build confidence, and to explore their interests in STEM. It offers opportunities to meet like-minded peers, engage with scientists and engineers, and begin to see a future for themselves in STEM-related fields.
SciFest extends sincere thanks to the teachers, judges, regional coordinators and volunteers who make these events possible, as well as to its partners and sponsors. Most importantly, congratulations to all the students whose hard work, creativity and enthusiasm continue to drive the success of SciFest.