Zack O’Leary from Co. Kildare representing Clongowes Wood College, has won the overall title of SciFest STEM Champion 2025 for his project M.A.N.T.I.S “Muon Analysis for Non-Invasive Tomography and Image Simulation”. Zack will go on to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona next May. SciFest is Ireland’s largest, most-inclusive all-island STEM fair programme for second-level students.
The SciFest National Final, held in Marino Conference Centre in Dublin, was attended by students from every corner of Ireland with 51 students from 31 schools qualifying to participate this year. Students secured their place at the National Final by winning one of the top awards at the 15 regional SciFest fairs earlier in the year.
This year’s programme also featured five international projects from students in Sri Lanka and South Africa, further extending the global network of SciFest
Since 2006, the programme continues to grow and expand, reporting an increase in student participation year on year. This growth has been made possible by the continued support of the Department of Education and Youth, Research Ireland and our industry partners, Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific, EirGrid and Keenova.
As SciFest prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, the programme’s mission remains the same – to encourage students’ participation in STEM in an enjoyable and interactive way. SciFest is free to enter and open to everyone across the island of Ireland, no matter their background or circumstance.
Speaking today at this year’s National Final, CEO and Founder of SciFest, Sheila Porter commented: “On behalf of everyone here at SciFest, I would like to extend a warm congratulations to all the participants, and in particular to Zack O’Leary for winning the title of SciFest STEM Champion 2025. We saw a significant increase in technology projects this year focusing on artificial intelligence and medical devices – it is great to see students take a strong interest in solving real world problems.”
“SciFest’s purpose remains to inspire and empower the next generation to engage with the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It has been a pleasure to watch SciFest continue to grow and to meet with all the immensely talented and bright students that participate every year. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has been involved – from our students, teachers, parents and judges to our wonderful sponsors – all of whom have contributed to this extraordinary event. “
Other award winners at the SciFest 2025 National Final include:
Two Regeneron ISEF Awards went to Eoin Cashman and Alex Thompson for their project Dust Dynamic: analysing planetary bodies through the ballistic motion of lofted dust particles, and to Addison Carey for her project on advancing post quantum latticed based cryptography by developing efficient shortest vector problem approaches.
Ronan Lyons who won the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award, for his project Capill: Compliance aid promoting independent living long-term.
Kinga Tobianska and Paulina Varuyeva who won the runner up Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award for their project Chill ‘N’ Heal bandage.
Jack McCormack who won the EirGrid Cleaner Climate Grand Award, for his project on engineering a new vertical axis wind turbine design for use in urban areas to promote sustainable energy production.
Amber McDonald who won the runner up EirGrid Cleaner Climate Grand Award for her project Energy crisis – let me kelp you!
Simona Gaubtye and Ema Sasnauskaite who won the Intel Technology Award, for their project on MedSync+: Identifying patterns in patient data to support evidence-based care.
Luke Blackwell who won the Keenova STEM Excellence Award, for his project on addressing wheelchair inaccessibility in urban environments through quantitative modelling.
Jack McCormack who won the Berlin Long Night of Science Award, for his project on engineering a new vertical axis wind turbine design for use in urban areas to promote sustainable energy production.
Colleen Waters and Katie Franklin who won the SciFest STEM Outreach Video Award, for their project on Cries till it’s chronic – an investigation into the potential gender bias in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain conditions in Ireland.
Isabel Connolly, Laoise Kimber O’Shea and Hai Ka Sung who won the SciFest Social Sciences Award, for their project Tinteán: A technological intervention in homelessness mitigation.
Grace Foley, who won the SciFest Life Sciences Award, for her project Microplastic in our meals: raising awareness of microplastic contamination through use of plastic kitchen utensils.
Eabha McBride, Layla Nolan and Leah Mullen who won the TUA Award, for their project on UV Index Calculation: integrating cloud classification and machine learning for precision in UV forecasting.
Muhammad Ashir Anwar who won the ISTA Award, for his project NeuroSync: AI powered support for cognitive and neurological care.
Isobel Meenan who won the SciFest Junior Scientist of the Future Award, for her project Kelp Helps: investigating whether seaweed can be used as an antibacterial product.
William Brosnan who won the SciFest Junior Technologist of the Future Award, for his project Dementia Shield: the future of AR and AI in medicine.
Khushi Lall who won the SciFest ISF 2025 International Award, for her project Garlic: nature’s secret to food preservation.
Marlhuné Bezuidenhout won the SciFest ISF 2025 Runner-up International Award, for her project on pasture-based sheep farming system: bioaccumulation of heavy metals and implications for livestock, lambing rates, growth margins and human health.
Yvonne Nolan from Clongowes Wood College, who won the Teacher of Excellence Award.
The project uses muons, the physical particles from the atmosphere, and simulates them entirely on a computer, and then uses AI machine learning to convert the data into a entire subservice map for any location on earth.
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