November University of Galway competition discovers Ireland’s best young science filmmakers

 ReelLIFE SCIENCE video prizes awarded to schools and youth groups in Louth, Limerick, Galway, Mayo, Meath, Kerry, Cork, Sligo and Roscommon

From soundwaves to skeletons and nettles to nanotechnology, short science videos made by young Irish filmmakers have been celebrated at the 12^th Annual ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards in University of Galway.

The event took place on as part of Science Week 2024 and the 27^th Galway Science and Technology Festival.

More than 300 short science films, created by 2,300 young science enthusiasts in 99 schools and youth groups across the island of Ireland entered the competition.

Winning videos were selected by a panel of guest judges, including astronaut Rosemary Coogan, European Space Agency; engineerDr David McKeown, University College Dublin; scientist Dr Muriel Grenon, University of Galway; and the 2024 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winner, Seán O’Sullivan from Coláiste Chiaráin, Limerick.

ReelLIFE SCIENCE Winners

1^st Prize Primary School – Thirty talented 3^rd and 4^th class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea, Co Galway, along with their teacher Brian Ó Meacháin, won the €1,000 first prize for their video ‘Faoi Bhrú’ explaining air pressure.

Runners-up Primary School – 6^th class students from Abbey Primary School in Boyle, Co Roscommon studied the skeleton in their ‘Spine-Tingling Science’ video, while 1^st class students from Ardfert National School, Tralee, Co Kerry, finished third with ‘Cranefly Investigation Special’ describing the humble daddy longlegs.

1^st Prize Post-Primary – Mandisa Jili, a 5^th year student from Desmond College, Newcastle West in Limerick, wowed audiences with her animated explanation of the Weak Force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, winning the €1,000 first prize under the guidance of teacher Liam Eddery.

Runners-up Post-Primary - Shaun Irimpan, Oliver Biju, Jeremy Twinkle and Chris Ben from Coláiste Na Mí, Navan, Co Meath, highlighted the addictive nature of TikTok and other social media apps in ‘Tick. Tock’ while ‘FOMO’, from Aisling Lehane, Amy White and Chloe Lehane, transition year students in St Mary's Macroom, Co Cork was awarded third place, for its portrayal of the fear of missing out, exacerbated by social media posts.

1^st Prize Youth Organisation - Young filmmaker and musician Arden Oakes, from Grow Music, Dundalk, Co Louth, won the €1,000 youth group prize for his video ‘What are Sound Waves?’.

Runners-up Youth Organisation – Katie Ruane from Louisburgh Foróige youth club in Mayo came second with ‘Why do Nettles Sting?’, while third place went to ‘Nanotechnology’ by Ruslan Hlukhmaniuk, Hordii Kolisnyk, Daria Krasnoshchok and Kiril Lychov from the Ukranian Integration Support Project in the Foróige South Sligo youth group.

Special Category Awards

All of the winning videos can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/ReelLifeScience.

            Addressing the finalists via video message from the European Space Agency, Belfast-born competition judge Rosemary Coogan, said: “As an astronaut and an astrophysicist, I know the rewards of a journey in science and exploration, and STEM has the possibility to open so many doors, whether that’s discovering new things about our universe or developing the next big innovation here on Earth. I wish you the very best of luck in all of your future scientific adventures.”

The ReelLIFE SCIENCE programme challenges young people in schools and youth groups across the island of Ireland to engage with science and technology while developing their communication and digital skills, by producing short educational videos for the public.

Since being launched in 2013 by a team of scientists from the University of Galway’s College of Science and Engineering, this challenge has been met by over 29,000 young people, supported by teachers and staff in 790 schools and youth groups.

ReelLIFE SCIENCE is supported by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, University of Galway’s College of Science and Engineering, the CÚRAM SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, the Cell EXPLORERS programme and Foróige.

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