Young Filmmakers Shine at 2025 ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards

Young filmmakers in Ireland showcased their creativity and passion for science at the 13th Annual ReelLIFE SCIENCE Awards held at the University of Galway on November 5, 2025. This event, part of Science Week 2025 and the 27th Galway Science and Technology Festival, celebrated over 200 short science videos produced by approximately 1,800 students from 86 schools and youth groups across the island.

A distinguished panel of judges, which included science communicators such as Mark Langtry from The Science Guy and representatives from University College Dublin, evaluated the entries. The panel also included the winners of the 2025 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, Ciara, Saoirse, and Laoise Murphy from Presentation Secondary School in Tralee, Co Kerry.

Primary Winners Highlight Ingenuity

The first prize in the primary category was awarded to a group of twenty-three sixth-class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea, Co Galway. Their animated video titled ‘An Fharraige Dhomhain’ explored the mysteries of the deep sea and earned them a prize of €1,000.

Runners-up included a humorous video titled ‘Small or Far Away?’ from sixth-class students at Sooey National School in Sligo, inspired by the television show *Fr. Ted*. The third-place award went to fifth-class students from Killorglin National School in Kerry, who created a science music video called ‘Why do Cats Always Land on their Feet?’. Fourth place was claimed by a project on levers and pulleys, titled ‘Machine Made Possible’, produced by sixth-class students from Abbey Primary School in Boyle, Co. Roscommon.

Post-Primary Innovations Recognized

In the post-primary category, first prize was awarded to seven students from Coláiste Ghobnait on Inis Oírr, Co Galway. Guided by science teacher Rebecca Ní Chríocháin, they produced a video called ‘Céard is cúis le ailléirgí?’, which explained the causes of allergies in Irish, earning them €1,000.

The runners-up included sixth-year students Shaun Irimpan and Gabriel McCrystal from Coláiste Na Mí in Navan, Co. Meath, who highlighted the negative impacts of artificial intelligence in their video ‘What Happens When Everyone Uses AI?’. Transition Year students from Alexandra College in Dublin took third place with their video ‘Everything we need to know about Dopamine’, while fourth place went to students from Tullow Community School in Carlow for their science music video ‘Why do we Hiccup?’.

Youth Organisations and Special Awards

The youth organisation category recognized a group of twelve young people from Athlone, Co Westmeath, who participated in workshops facilitated by Midlands Science and Foróige. Their video ‘Why is the Sky Blue’ earned them the top prize and €1,000.

Runners-up included Brogan O’Donnell from Trident Swim Club in Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim, who explored ‘The Science of Swimming’, and a group from Ballybane Foróige in Galway who created a video titled ‘My life as…a Scientist’. Fourth place was awarded to a collaboration from the Ballyphehane and Greenmount Foróige group in Cork for their video ‘The Science of Coke and Mentos’.

The event also featured special category awards, with recognitions for best animation, acting, and agricultural science. Notable winners included Carrigallen National School for the Agricultural Science Award and Bunclody Community College for the Best Acting Award.

All winning videos can be viewed on the official ReelLIFE SCIENCE YouTube channel.

Since its inception in 2013, the ReelLIFE SCIENCE programme has engaged over 30,000 young people, fostering their interest in science and technology through the production of educational videos. Dr. Enda O’Connell, one of the program’s founders, expressed pride in the imagination and creativity displayed by participants, emphasizing how they bring science to life in engaging and accessible ways.

“We’re incredibly proud of all the students, teachers, and youth leaders who took part this year,” Dr. O’Connell stated. “A big congratulations to every one of them for sharing their passion for science with the world.”

The ReelLIFE SCIENCE initiative is supported by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Galway, and various educational organizations.