SETU hosted SciFest 2026 at the Kilkenny Road Campus, Carlow, welcoming secondary school students from across the region. This year also marked a significant milestone for SETU, which was recognised with a Business Excellence Institution Award.
More than 11 schools participated, with nearly 180 students presenting research and project work across a wide range of STEM topics. The event provided a valuable platform for students to showcase their ideas, engage with judges and peers, and experience a real scientific exhibition environment.
"At SETU, we truly enjoy running SciFest because it gives us the opportunity to connect with students who are just as passionate about science as we are. Seeing their enthusiasm, creativity, and curiosity is incredibly rewarding and reminds us why events like this are so important."
Dr Adriana Cunha Neves, SETU lecturer and Scifest Regional Coordinator
Founded in 2006, SciFest is a national STEM programme that encourages second-level students to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through research-led projects. Over the past two decades, it has grown into Ireland’s largest STEM fair programme for secondary schools, promoting accessibility, participation, and a strong interest in STEM subjects.
The programme is delivered through a series of one-day STEM fairs at different levels. SciFest@College, a key stage of the programme, takes place in third-level institutions, including SETU. These events give students the opportunity to exhibit their work, take part in competitions, and attend engaging science talks and demonstrations.
“Twenty years ago, the first SciFest fair took place in 2006, and since then we’ve seen tens of thousands of students bring ideas to life - asking questions, testing solutions, and presenting projects with confidence and pride. This year is about recognising what has made SciFest possible - the dedication of students, the support of teachers and mentors, and the passion for curiosity and innovation that continues to drive it forward.”
Sheila Porter, Founder and CEO, Scifest
At this year’s event in Carlow, students presented projects spanning diverse disciplines such as life sciences, physics, and technology. Entries were evaluated by academic and industry judges, with awards presented across multiple categories by sponsoring organisations. Judges highlighted the exceptional standard of entries, pointing to the creativity, depth of scientific thinking, and strong communication skills across all categories.
Ahead of the much-anticipated award ceremony, participants attended an inspiring talk by Dr Paula Fitzpatrick on chasing the Olympic dream, leaving the audience motivated and eager to further explore the world of science.
SciFest continues to play a key role in nurturing young scientific talent by hosting fairs at local, regional, and national levels. Winning projects from SciFest@College at SETU progressed to the national finals, where the best student research from across Ireland is showcased.
SETU’s ongoing involvement in SciFest reflects its commitment to encouraging and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators to address real-world challenges and shape a sustainable future, a commitment also recognised through its recent Business Excellence Institution Award.
Photo Gallery
All images are free to download in the desired resolution by tapping on this link.