November Ireland’s best young science filmmakers announced

University of Galway's ReelLIFE SCIENCE awards go to budding producers in schools and youth groups in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Leitrim, Louth, Roscommon and Sligo

From diabetes to dreaming, and photosynthesis to Formula 1, short science films made by young people have been celebrated at the 14^th Annual ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards in University of Galway.

 The event took place on Sunday November 8^th as part of Science Week 2026 and the 29^th Galway Science and Technology Festival.

 More than 200 short science films were entered - created by 1,000 young science enthusiasts in 78 schools and youth groups across the island of Ireland.

 Winning videos were selected by a panel of guest judges including Superhero Scientist Dr Barry Fitzgerald, Midlands Science Chief Executive Jackie Gorman and the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winner Aoibheann Daly from Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk in Tralee, Co Kerry.

 ReelLIFE SCIENCE Winners

 1^st Prize Primary School – Twenty-six talented third-class students from Abbey Primary School in Boyle, Co Roscommon, guided by teacher Clíodhna O'Donnell, won the €1,000 first prize for their hair-raising video ‘Nitty Gritty Science’ about the lifecycle of headlice.

 Runners-up Primary School – Bringing humour, creativity and fun to photosynthesis were 29 fifth and sixth class students and teacher Thomas Egan from Sooey National School in Sligo, claiming second prize for ‘Shedding a Light on Photosynthesis’. Finishing third, and led by teacher Brian Ó Meacháin, 30 fourth and fifth class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach in Baile Locha Riach, Co na Gaillimhe explained this summer’s solar eclipse in ‘Urú na Gréinne’.

 1^st Prize Post-Primary – Eight second and third 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 é Diaibéiteas?’ rapping about the different types of diabetes through Irish.

 Runners-up Post-Primary – In second place, with an animated video answering the question ‘How Do Noise-Cancelling Headphones Work?’ were Transition Year students Yuqi Lu and Audrey Yang, from Alexandra College Dublin. Finishing third, with her hand-drawn animated short explaining the science behind ‘Lucid Dreaming’ was Anna Wing Yin Hui, a third-year student from Nord Anglia International School in Dublin.

1^st Prize Youth Organisation – Answering the question ‘How Do We Make Sound?’, using props including a piano and a pet chicken, third year student Arden Oakes, representing Grow Music from Dundalk, Co Louth, claimed the first prize in the youth organisation category.

 Runners-up Youth Organisation – Brogan O’Donnell from Trident Swim Club in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim came second, mixing animation and underwater footage when exploring the body’s production of the energy required for swimming in ‘Fuel for the Pool’. Paige Connolly, Jodie Buckley, Ciarán Callaghan and Lauren Keohane from Ballyphehane and Greenmount Foróige group in Cork were third for their video about the aerodynamics and physics of Formula 1 cars through the years.

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

 Jackie Gorman, Midlands Science CEO and ReelLIFE SCIENCE judge, said: “I was really delighted to be a judge this year for ReelLIFE SCIENCE. It was really heartening to see the science explained so well and to see that, not only was the science so accurate and engaging, but the communication itself. We need lots of people all over Ireland to engage with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, but we equally need people who are going to communicate the science well, so that as many people as possible understand that science is not just part of our economy but it’s a really valuable part of our society and our everyday lives.”

 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 the University of Galway, this challenge has been met by over 33,000 young people, supported by teachers and staff in 850 schools and youth groups, producing almost 4,000 short science videos.

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

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