A Laois school recently held their annual science fair, where students impressed with a wide range of projects.

Heywood Community School was a hub of innovation and scientific inquiry on May 1 as students took part in the annual SciFest science fair.

The school event featured an impressive range of student-led projects across biology, chemistry, physics, and technology — all demonstrating remarkable creativity, critical thinking, and scientific rigor. SciFest was first established in 2018, and has grown each year since.

Principal Mr. Eamon Jackman expressed pride in the student body and gratitude to SciFest for its ongoing support.

“Events like this nurture a lifelong interest in science and discovery,” Mr Jackman said.

“We’re proud of every student who took part and grateful to Mr. Dunne and the SciFest team for their expertise and encouragement.” 

Pictured: SciFest in 2019

SciFest, a national initiative aimed at promoting STEM education in schools, provided a platform for students to investigate real-world problems and share their findings. This year’s projects were of an exceptionally high standard, according to both staff and judges. 

A special guest, Mr. Alan Dunne from SciFest, attended the fair and served as one of the judges. He praised the participants for their depth of research and innovation across various disciplines.

“It’s truly inspiring to see such enthusiasm and quality of work from students at this level,” Mr Dunne said.

“They’ve set a high bar for future competitions.” 

Projects explored a wide range of thought-provoking topics, including: 

• Metal conductivity and the effects of temperature changes 

• Does playing sport affect academics? 

• Does farming influence mental health? 

• How does the quantity of activator used affect the quality of glue-based slime? 

The overall prize was awarded to students Rachel Dunne and Zara Brennan for their project “How clean is pre-packaged fruit?”, which examined the microbial content of ready-to-eat, pre-washed fruit.

The runner-up award went to Daniel Case and Matthew Farrell for their investigation “Are people's memories better when sitting down or standing up?” 

Pictured left: Winners Rachel Dunne and Zara Brennan. Right: Runners up Daniel Case and Matthew Farrell

Other students were also recognized for their outstanding contributions: 

• Best Communicator Award: Ofry Dunne – “What is the most effective way to filter water?” 

• EirGrid Award: Oscar Fingleton – “Deepseek vs. ChatGPT on the Leaving Cert” 

• STEM Award: Daniel Bergin and Cara Mezzapelle – “How does the material of chopping boards affect the release of microplastics during food preparation?” 

• SciFest Project Award: Niamh Dundon and Ava Rowan – “Investigating the effectiveness of own-brand vs. expensive-brand laundry pods at removing stains.” 

• Heywood Project Award: Caoimhe Kelly, Grainne Scully, and Bronagh Fitzgerald – “Do baby girls or boys tend to sleep better?” 

In addition to showcasing scientific knowledge, the science fair fostered teamwork and communication, as students presented and explained their hypotheses, methods, and conclusions to judges, teachers, and visiting guests. 

Sheila Porter, Founder and CEO of SciFest, praised students for their creativity.

“Since SciFest@School was launched nationwide in 2011 it has gone from strength to strength," Ms Porter said.

"I am continually amazed by the passion and dedication demonstrated by the students. SciFest@School is a celebration of STEM subjects. It encourages students to push the boundaries of the classroom, use their knowledge of science, investigate and be creative in their projects.

"The achievement of these students is an inspiration to us all and is a tribute to them and to the hard work and support of their teachers," Ms Porter finished. 

SciFest at Heywood Community School continues to grow each year, fostering a strong culture of scientific curiosity and underscoring the importance of STEM education in preparing their students for the challenges of the future.

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