SciFest@College Awards 2026

SciFest@College 2026 Major Awards

The following awards are currently available for projects entered in each of the regional SciFest@College venues in 2026.

To view the specific criteria for each award please click on the award title.

Note: An award may not be presented if, in the opinion of the judges, no project meeting the criteria for the particular award is of sufficient standard to merit the award.

Note: Available awards, and award criteria, may change in the course of the year in the light of prevailing circumstances.

Award Criteria

Best Project Award

This award is presented to the overall best project. The criteria for selecting the best project include the potential for further development and for competing at an international level.

The Best Project Award winners from the SciFest@College 2026 regional STEM fairs will compete at the SciFest National Final in November.

Participants in the National Final, providing their project meets Criterion 1 below, will compete for the SciFest STEM Champion 2026 Award. This award consists of a trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip for the winning student(s) and their mentor to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2027 in Los Angeles, USA.

Criterion 1. To qualify for the SciFest STEM Champion Award at the SciFest2026 National Final a project must comply with the rules of Regeneron ISEF 2027.

Runner-up Best Project Award

This award is presented to the overall second-best project.

The best of the runners-up from the regional fairs will also participate in the SciFest National Final. Like the Best Project Award winners they will also compete for the SciFest STEM Champion 2026 Award provided the project meets Criterion 1 above.

Following the completion of the regional SciFest@College 2026 STEM fairs the runners-up will be invited to submit their project report books to SciFest CLG. A panel of judges appointed by SciFest will assess the projects, based on the report books, and select the projects to go forward to participate in the National Final 2026.

Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award

This award will be presented to the project that best demonstrates:

• Understanding of a problem/unanswered question related to science or engineering in the field of medical device
• Understanding of an area where you have experience or are aware of something to help / improve /change a person’s quality of life who may have a medical need - parent / sister / brother / grandparent / classmate
• Provides a contribution to the medical device field through research/experimentation

Note 1. This award may be presented only to a project based on an investigation in the field of human medicine – see www.scifest.ie for PowerPoint presentation: “What is a medical device?”

The best of the winners of this award at the regional fairs will compete at the National Final for the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award. They will also compete for the other awards available at the National Final, including the SciFest STEM Champion 2026 Award provided the project meets Criterion 1 above.

Following the completion of the regional SciFest@College 2026 STEM fairs the winners of this award will be invited to submit their project report books to SciFest CLG. A panel of judges appointed by Boston Scientific and SciFest will assess the projects, based on the report books, and select the projects to go forward to compete at the National Final 2026.

EirGrid Cleaner Climate Award

This award is presented to the project that best demonstrates the design of a creative, innovative approach which contributes to a cleaner energy future. Projects should focus on at least one of the following:

• Climate Change - these could include social studies, data studies, etc.
• Renewable Energy
• Electricity Transmission
• Existing and alternative energy generation, including wind energy and solar energy
• Carbon Footprint
• Energy Savings
• Air Quality

The best of the winners of this award at the regional fairs will compete at the National Final for the EirGrid Cleaner Climate Grand Award. They will also compete for the other awards available at the National Final, including the SciFest STEM Champion 2026 Award provided the project meets Criterion 1 above.

Following the completion of the regional SciFest@College 2026 STEM fairs a panel of judges appointed by EirGrid and SciFest will assess the projects, based on the report books, and select the projects to go forward to compete at the National Final 2026.

Keenova STEM Excellence Award

This award is presented to the project that best demonstrates at least one of the following:

• Outstanding achievement across the STEM fields
• A high level of understanding and execution of STEM principles
• Innovation and creativity in solving real-world problems through interdisciplinary STEM approaches
• Strong presentation and communication of complex ideas

Intel Technology Award

This award is presented to the best project in the Technology category. If the overall best project or the runner-up is awarded in the Technology category this prize is awarded to the next best project in this category.

Regeneron Life Sciences Award

This award is presented to the project that best demonstrates a passion for using science for good, an exceptional understanding of life sciences concepts, perseverance and flexibility. This award may be made in any of the 3 categories.

This award is not available for Social and Behavioural projects.

Business Excellence Institute Award

To qualify for this award the project must have generated knowledge that has the potential to be used (applied) in an organization, meaning it can be “commercialised” either to create or improve (i) a product (where product included service), (ii) a method of production of a product, or (iii) a method of the delivery of a product.

If the knowledge generated in the project were applied to an organisation:

• What would be the environmental impact?
• Would it result in a new product or service or reduce the cost/improve the efficiency of a product or service?
• What would be benefits to the end users?
• What would be the benefits to society in general?
• Would it benefit the organisation’s people and/or its partners and suppliers?
• Would the materials / resources required be readily available?

This award may be made in any of the 3 categories.

SciFest 20th Anniversary Award

This award is presented to project which best exemplifies the spirit of SciFest over 20 years – curiosity, creativity, scientific thinking, and inclusive STEM with real-world impact; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.

SciFest Physics Award

This award is presented to the project with the best physics content; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.

SciFest Chemistry Award

This award is presented to the project with the best chemistry content; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.

SciFest Maths in Science Award

This award is presented to the project with the best use of maths; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.

SciFest Social Science Award

This award is presented to the best Social Science project; it may be made in any of the 3 categories.

ESERO Ireland Discover Space Student Award

The European Space Education Resource Office Ireland (ESERO Ireland) is a project co-funded by SFI Discover and the European Space Agency. The aim of the project is to use space as a theme to support the teaching of science and maths through the provision of resources, inspirational materials and training for teachers.

Criteria: The award is presented to the project which best uses Space as a theme in science, technology or maths. Space education information and resources are available from www.esero.ie.This award may be made in any of the 3 categories.

ESERO Ireland Discover Space Teacher Award

This award is presented to the teacher/mentor of the student/s winning the ESERO Student Award.

Irish Science Teachers' Association Student Award

This award is presented to the best project in the Junior Category. If the Best Project Award winner or Runner-up is from the Junior Category the prize will be awarded to the next best project in the category.

SciFest Communication Award

This award is presented to either a group or an individual whose project has an organised and clear report book, demonstrates enthusiasm and confidence in their presentation and can clearly convey how their project impacts the end user.

Judges Recommendation Award

This award is presented to the project which, in the opinion of the judges, should be considered for participation in the National Final in addition to those listed above.

Following the completion of the regional SciFest@College 2026 STEM fairs the winners of this award will be invited to submit their project report books to SciFest CLG. A panel of judges appointed by SciFest will assess the projects, based on the report books, and select the projects to go forward to participate in the National Final 2026.