November Ireland’s best young science filmmakers unearthed

University of Galway’s ReelLIFE SCIENCE awards for schools and youth groups in 10 counties

From AI to allergies and dopamine to the deep sea, short science videos made by young Irish filmmakers have been celebrated at the 13^th Annual ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards in University of Galway.

The event took place on Sunday November 9^th as part of Science Week 2025 and the 27^th Galway Science and Technology Festival.

More than 200 short science films were entered into the competition created by 1,800 young science enthusiasts in 86 schools and youth groups taking part across the island of Ireland.

Winning videos were selected by a panel of guest judges including science communicators Mark Langtry – The Science Guy; Amy Hassett, University College Dublin; and the 2025 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winners, Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise Murphy, from Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, Co Kerry.

ReelLIFE SCIENCE Winners – Primary

1^st Prize – Twenty-three talented sixth class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea, Co Galway, along with their teacher Brian Ó Meacháin, won the €1,000 first prize for their animated video ‘An Fharraige Dhomhain’ exploring The Deep Sea.Runners-up – Inspired by an episode of Fr. Ted, teacher Thomas Egan and sixth class students from Sooey National School in Sligo explained the workings of the eye in their humorous video ‘Small or Far Away?’ Finishing third, and led by teacher Tommy Buckley, fifth class students from Killorglin National School in Kerry made a science music video entitled ‘Why do Cats Always Land on their Feet’, while teacher Clíodhna O’Donnell and 28 sixth class students from Abbey Primary School in Boyle, Co. Roscommon came fourth for their study of levers and pulleys, ‘Machine Made Possible’.

ReelLIFE SCIENCE Winners – Post-primary

1^st Prize – Seven first and second year students from Coláiste Ghobnait on Inis Oírr, Co na Gaillimhe, won the €1,000 first prize under the guidance of science teacher Rebecca Ní Chríocháin, for their video ‘Céard is cúis le ailléirgí?’ explaining the causes of allergies through Irish.

Runners-up – Sixth year students Shaun Irimpan and Gabriel McCrystal from Coláiste Na Mí, Navan, Co. Meath, highlighted the negative impacts of artificial intelligence in their video ‘What Happens When Everyone Uses AI?’ The third-place prize went to Transition Year students Evanna Moneley, Jasmine Zhang and Asia Aru from Alexandra College in Dublin for their video ‘Everything we need to know about Dopamine’, while fourth prize was awarded to Saipresha Paraneetharan, Alannah McCarthy, Zara Jaiby and Lily Hutton from Tullow Community School in Carlow for their science music video ‘Why do we Hiccup?,

ReelLIFE SCIENCE Winners – Youth Organisation

1^st Prize – A group of 12 young people from Athlone, Co Westmeath who took part in My Life Online workshops facilitated by Midlands Science and Foróige and supported by the Rethink Ireland TikTok Digital Future Fund, won the €1,000 youth group first prize for their video ‘Why is the Sky Blue’.

 Runners-up – Brogan O’Donnell from Trident Swim Club in Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim came second for his underwater video exploring ‘The Science of Swimming’. Eddie Sweeney and Brooklyn Conroy from Ballybane Foróige in Galway were third for their science experiments video ‘My life as…a Scientist’, while six young people from Ballyphehane and Greenmount Foróige group in Cork finished fourth for their video ‘The Science of Coke and Mentos’.

Special Category Awards

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

 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 Dr Enda O’Connell and a team of scientists from University of Galway’s College of Science and Engineering, this challenge has been met by more than 30,000 young people, supported by teachers and staff in 825 schools and youth groups.

 Dr O’Connell said: “Every year, we’re amazed by the imagination, creativity and curiosity shown by young people across Ireland. Through ReelLIFE SCIENCE, they bring science to life in ways that are funny, thought-provoking and inspiring, making it accessible to everyone. We’re incredibly proud of all the students, teachers and youth leaders who took part this year. A big congratulations to every one of them for sharing their passion for science with the world.”

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

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