The winners of ReelLIFE SCIENCE 2019 were announced at the 22nd Galway Science and Technology Festival in NUI Galway as BALTYDANIEL NS from Newtwopothouse, Co. Cork at primary school level, HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF from Cabra, Dublin 7 at secondary school level, and ROSSES NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH PROJECT from The Rosses, Co. Donegal at Community Level.
Winning videos were selected from a total of 191 entries made by over 1,300 participants in 77 schools and community groups around Ireland, by a panel of judges including geneticist, author and BBC presenter Dr. Adam Rutherford, BT Young Scientist and SciFest winner Adam Kelly and meteorologist and RTE weather forecaster Joanna Donnelly, who was on hand to present the prizes, along with Science Foundation Ireland Head of Education and Public Engagement Margie McCarthy.
Based in NUI Galway and supported by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover programme, the Community Knowledge Initiative, the CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices and the Cell EXPLORERS programme, ReelLIFE SCIENCE challenges Irish schools and community groups to communicate science and technology via engaging and educational short videos. Since being launched in 2013 by Dr. Enda O’Connell and a team of volunteer scientists, this challenge has been met by more than 13,000 participants in 400 schools and groups around Ireland.
All prizewinning videos below were screened for the public at the ‘ReelLIFE SCIENCE Cinema’ in NUI Galway as part of the 22nd Galway Science and Technology Festival on Sunday November 24th.
Primary School Winners
The panel selected ‘No New Water‘ by Baltydaniel NS from Newtwopothouse, Co. Cork as the best video at Primary School Level, winning €1000. Judge Joanna Donnelly praised the video’s “funny script“, cast, filming and graphics, while Adam Kelly said the video was “Informative, accessible and pretty funny.”
Secondary School Winners
Transition year students, Kalen McDonnell, Noah Lynskey, Jason Doyle, Erin Russell Hughes and Katie Hughes, along with teacher Aideen Lynch from Holy Family School for the Deaf in Dublin, claimed the Secondary School €1000 award, for their short film ‘How Science Helps Us Hear’. Judge Adam Kelly said of the video “I didn’t know much about hearing aids or cochlear implants worked, and this video did a good job of informing me, really enjoyable.” while Joanna Donnelly remarked that “This taught me something new!”
Community Group Winners
The ‘Green Team’ from Rosses Neighbourhood Youth Project in The Rosses, Co. Donegal, led by Foróige Project Worker Clare Mullan, won the €1000 Community Group first prize for their video about Climate Action, ‘Acting Local, Thinking Global’. Judge Adam Rutherford praised the “Fantastic combination of powerful imagery and commentary” while Joanna Donnelly called the video “Brilliant. These kids were very good. The graphics were super. The explanations were clear. They have a plan to counter the issue and are acting on it. I love these guys!”
Primary School Runner-Up
Sixth class Gaelscoil Riabhach students from Loughrea in Co. Galway finished second with their video ‘Caithfidh muid labhairt faoi Karen (We need to talk about Karen)‘. Mar a dúirt Joanna Donnelly “Is maith liom an scannán seo. Is maith liom go bhfuil Karen beagán greannmhar agus gur úsáid cliste de scéalaíocht laethúil í chun beagán eolaíochta a mhíniú. Bhí an scannánú go maith le ceamara seasta. Bhí na grafaicí bunúsach ach éifeachtach. Úsáid mhaith as roinnt áiteanna.” while Adam Rutherford reckoned “Karen deserves an Oscar for acting!”
Secondary School Runner-Up
Sixth year students Aidan Grennan, John Stevenson, Carl Coughlan, Patrick Coughlan, Maeve Maloney, Leah Hogan, Naomi Whynne Smith and Natasha Delaney from Banagher College, Co. Offaly were runners-up with their video ‘Why humans cannot digest cellulose in grass‘ and who both Adam Kelly and Adam Rutherford praised for “getting their hands dirty.”
Community Group Runner-Up
Croí Heart and Stroke Charity Communications Manager Edel Burke and Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist Patricia Hall were runners-up at Community Group level with their video ‘How Things Work – Your Heart!‘ Judge Adam Rutherford called it a “really clear explanation of cardio-anatomy, a great teaching video.”
Primary School Third Place
Fifth and sixth class students from Sooey National School in Sligo took to the streets to show us how to combat climate change in their third-placed video ‘Drastic Action!‘ about which Joanna Donnelly commented “Lots of energy and fun in this video. The children clearly enthused and delighted to see the protests.”
Secondary School Third Place
Ashbourne Community School transition year students Aibhe Cronin, Eabha Delaney, Leah Duffy, Lisa Golden and Niamh Battersby were third with their ‘Climate Action!‘ video, praised by Joanna Donnelly for its “Lovely music. Enjoyed the stop/go animation. Enjoyed the use of the story telling from the polar bears perspective.”
Community Group Third Place
Eleven young members of the Knocknacarra Foróige group in Galway City produced a “fun” and “entertaining” video about ‘Exploding Volcanoes’. Judge Joanna Donnelly “Enjoyed the different use of film techniques” and the video’s “Great colourful cast and imaginative intro.”
Well done to all of the winning filmmakers and to everyone who took part and supported ReelLIFE SCIENCE in 2019. Hope to see you next year for ReelLIFE SCIENCE 2020!
