ReelLIFE SCIENCE is a novel science video competition for Irish primary and secondary schools, which aims to promote Science in the classroom and beyond, by inviting students to produce a short video communicating a scientific topic in an engaging and entertaining way.
Launched on Monday August 31st 2015, and supported by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover programme and the CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices, ReelLIFE SCIENCE will award €3000 in prizes directly to the winning schools! The makers of the best video at primary and secondary school level will each receive €1000, to be spent on their science programme, while second and third-placed entries at each level will receive €300 and €200, respectively.
Winners will also be invited to attend the Galway Science and Technology Festival on Sunday November 22nd in NUI Galway, to receive their prizes and certificates, and to see their videos on display to the general public.
Video submissions on a range of topics, will be invited from Irish primary and secondary schools before the closing date of Friday October 16th. Winning videos, selected by a panel of very Special Guest Judges, including Canadian Astronaut Cmdr. Chris Hadfield, Professor of Molecular Evolution, Aoife McLysaght and BT Young Science and Technologists, Ian O’Sullivan and Eimear Murphy, will be announced during Science Week 2015 on November 9th.
Speaking ahead of the competition, Commander Hadfield said: “I am very much looking forward to seeing the science videos that Irish students will be making! Discovery and creativity, turned loose by imagination. A great project that I am proud to be a part of.”
Primary School Topics
- Design Your Future
- Science in Space
- The Soil is Alive!
- Water is Life
- Your Health is Your Wealth
Secondary School Topics
- Evolution – Our Story
- Heroines of Science
- Incredible Life
- Light
- Smart Medical Devices (in partnership with CÚRAM)
The competition was conceived by Dr. Enda O’Connell (Director) and, with the support of a team of NUI Galway Science communicators including Cell EXPLORERS, was piloted in Co. Galway schools in September 2013. In 2014, the competition was launched nationwide for the first time, with participation from schools in 24 counties around Ireland.
The best videos from 2013 and 2014 can be seen on our ‘Previous Years‘ page, and have already been viewed tens of thousands of times in over 100 countries and on RTÉ2 and TG4.
Previous participants have told us that ReelLIFE SCIENCE “contributed to skill development and pupil enjoyment of science” and was “something that the children will never forget”, while one of the winning schools were “really enjoying the fame and had a phone call from Australia and a message from an Indian scientist about our video.”
Check out our Facebook page, Twitter feed and our series of Research Articles for some inspiration when selecting your topic, or if you just want to read some interesting Science! You’ll also be able to keep up to date with the competition and to see the videos once the competition has ended.
You can find more information about making and submitting your video on our Teachers’ Tips page and don’t forget to check out our FAQs, Timeline and Terms and Conditions. When you are ready to submit your video, please do so via our Application Form.
ReelLIFE SCIENCE 