Four Kerry students have won top awards at SciFest 2025, held at MTU Kerry Campus in Tralee. Clodagh de Búrca of Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí claimed the Best Project Award for “Surviving the Storm”, while Alex Thompson, Eoin Cashman, and Kamil Zoltek of Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra earned the Runner-Up Best Project Award for their lunar science project on Apollo 16 dust trajectories.
The winners, chosen from a wide field of Munster post-primary school students, will now represent MTU Kerry Campus at the SciFest National Final in November.
Clodagh expressed her excitement: “I really thought outside the box to prepare for future Irish storms. I’m grateful to my teacher for her support.”
Dr. Seán McSweeney, Dean of Engineering at MTU, praised the entries and said, “With our new STEM building nearly complete, we look forward to welcoming future scientists who will shape Ireland’s future.”
Keynote speaker Marian Cantillon, founder of Pitseal, urged students to stay curious and take risks in STEM. “Be brave, ask questions, and keep going. That’s how real change happens.”
SciFest Founder Sheila Porter highlighted the event’s impact on young innovators, with over 15,000 students participating annually. She thanked partners like Intel, EirGrid, and the Department of Education for supporting inclusive STEM opportunities.
Founded in 2006, SciFest is now Ireland’s largest second-level STEM fair, culminating in a prestigious national final and offering winners the chance to represent Ireland internationally.
