Clare’s “Out of this World” Project Scoops Scifest’s Top Prize

Excitement was building in Our Lady’s Bower from November 19^th as the National Final of Scifest 2021, Ireland’s largest and most prestigious second-level STEM fair programme, approached. The week running up to the event saw the whole school community get behind the Bower’s finalists; 6^th Year Clare Reidy and 5^th Year Hannah Duffy, as votes were cast for a new STEM Outreach category of the competition. The school was so proud to see two Bower projects reach this year’s National Final, to compete against 25 other entries.

Both Clare and Hannah have shown wonderful dedication to their research, building all the while since their success at the SciFest@College regional competition, hosted by TUS last year. Hannah presented her project “The Last Straw!! The Impact of Microplastics on our Inland Lakes” with Clare reaching the final with her research entitled “Cosmic Radiation Protection Simulation”.

The excitement reached crescendo on Saturday November 27^th, with the Champion being announced on the second day of the awards event. This virtual ceremony allowed students, staff and families to share in the excitement as Clare Reidy was announced as 2021 Champion by Scifest Founder and CEO, Sheila Porter. Sheila extended “huge congratulations to Clare for winning this year’s SciFest National Final. She highlighted how the competition “received a tremendous number of entries this year and the standard was as high as we’ve come to expect from SciFest participants”. Minister for Education, Norma Foley also congratulated Clare on her success: “The level of innovation gives great cause for optimism now and into the future. I’d like to congratulate Clare for winning this award and applaud all those students who have participated in this year’s competition”.

Clare received the award for her innovative research project, investigating effective building materials for future exploration of Mars. Her victory will see her represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Atlanta, Georgia.

Congratulations to Hannah and Clare on reaching this year’s finals and we wish Clare every success as she takes her research to the international stage next May. Thank you to Science teachers Mrs Ellen Maguire and Ms Julie-Anne Greaney and congratulations to Ms Greaney who was awarded the Teacher of Excellence Award 2021. Our Lady’s Bower is extremely proud of our Girls in STEM.