SciFest is Ireland’s largest STEM fair programme for second-level students. SciFest’s mission is to ensure every second-level student has an opportunity to develop critical STEM skillsets through participation in a STEM fair, irrespective of their ability, background, gender or circumstance. SciFest operates across the whole island of Ireland and throughout the entire school year and, being locall
y and regionally based and free to enter, it is highly inclusive and accessible. The SciFest programme was founded by the current CEO, Sheila Porter. The first SciFest STEM fair took place in the Institute of Technology, Tallaght in 2006. The programme was launched nationwide in 2008, with some 1600 students taking part in nine fairs in regional venues. In 2025 over 16,000 students took part in over one 165 SciFest fairs, local, regional and national. The SciFest programme consists of one-day STEM fairs hosted at local level in schools (SciFest@School), at regional level (SciFest@College) in TU Dublin (3 venues), ATU (3 venues), TUS (3 venues) DkIT, DCU, MTU (2 venues), SETU (2 venues) and St Mary's College, Derry, culminating in a national competition for the overall winners of each regional event. Winning students from the National Final represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in America, The Eskom EXPO International Science Fair in South Africa and the Berlin Long Night of Science. SciFest is funded entirely by sponsorship. The main sponsors are Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific, EirGrid, Mallinckrodt, Research Ireland and the Department of Education. SciFest is also supported by a number of other companies and organisations. The ongoing expansion and development of the SciFest programme continues to create opportunities for additional sponsors. SciFest is honoured to have the President of Ireland, Michael D. In 2016 SciFest joined Gaisce as an official Challenge Partner supporting The President's Award. The SciFest programme is run by a not-for-profit company, SciFest PLC:
CRO Number: 517787; Registered Charity Number: 20081270; CHY Number: 20478. RCN 20081270
