BT Teacher Award 2016

The Institute of Physics in Ireland is preparing an "Initial Response" to the State Examination Commission.
A full report will be sent to the SEC after the Marking Schemes have been published and the meetings in Blackrock Education Centre and at Frontiers of Physics in September. If you have any comments on these papers please send them to paul.nugent@gmail.com

A group will meet to discuss the Physics Exam papers on Tues 21st June starting at 7pm in Buswells Hotel, 23 Molesworth St. Dublin 2 (Opposite Dáil Eireann). Please let David Keenahan know if you can come along (dkeenahan@gmail.com). 

Other dates for your diary:

1.   Robert Boyle Summer School Programme June 23^rd – 26^th 2016 
      (More info at: http://www.robertboyle.ie )

 2.  Frontiers of Physics 2016  takes place Sat  24th Sept 2016, in  DIT, Grangegorman Campus, Dublin. (Prof. Mike Cruise is the keynote speaker. He was the lead investigator on LIGO Gravitational Wave detector. There will be lots of workshops and free resources).

A student who designed a unique assisted shaving device wins SciFest 2017. EnableArm is an assisted shaving device for people with limited hand dexterity. Aaron…

In Marino Conference Centre on Friday 6th November 48 second-level students from all over Ireland will compete for a number of prestigious awards at the SciFest 2015 National Final.

The awards include:

* SciFest 2015 Grand Award. 
Trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip for the student(s) to represent Ireland at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2016. Sponsored by SFI Discover and Intel Ireland.

* Intel Teacher of Excellence Award. 
Trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2016 for the mentor of the Grand Award winner(s). Sponsored by Intel Ireland.

* Berlin Long Night of Science Award. 
Trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip for the student(s) and their mentor to attend the Long Night of Science in Berlin in May 2016. Supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

* SEAI INESPO Award. 
Trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip for the student(s) and their mentor to represent Ireland at the International Environment and Sustainability Project Olympiad (INESPO) in the Netherlands in May/June 2016. Sponsored by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

* Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award.
Engraved trophy and €500. Sponsored by Boston Scientific.

* IOTI Award.
Engraved trophy and €75. Sponsored by Institutes of Technology Ireland.

* ISTA Award.
Engraved trophy. Sponsored by the Irish Science Teachers’ Association.

*Spirit of SciFest Award.
Engraved trophy. Presented by SciFest Limited.

* Excellence in STEM Awards.
Engraved plaques. Sponsored by SFI Discover.

Congratulations to Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, who were awarded the first place prize of €1,200 for their Science department in the 2012 ISTA PharmaChemical Ireland Teacher Awards. 

Congrats also to the Science departments in Donabate Community College and St. Columba’s College, Whitechurch, who were runners up in the event and received €600 each.

Thanks also to Ms Aoibhinn Ní Shuilleabháin who did an excellent job at chairing the presentations by each team entitled ‘Enhancing the uptake of science subjects’ and the judges, who included an external Fulbright Fellow Prof William McComas from the University of Arkansas.

Attached photo:  L-R:  Yvonne Higgins (ISTA Chairperson), Tanya Morrison (Crana College), Charlie Dolan (ISTA President), Philip McGuinness (Crana College).