STUDENTS from across Limerick and the wider region showcased innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills at 2026 SciFest at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Limerick.
The Department of Applied Science at TUS hosted SciFest at the Moylish Campus, welcoming 170 secondary school students from across the Mid West and wider afield, who exhibited projects across life sciences, physical sciences, and technology.
From the impressive line-up of entries, the top honour — the SciFest Best Project Award — was awarded to Soumyadeep Saha from Ardscoil RÃs for his project ‘Optima – An Investigation in the Effect of Intelligent and Dynamic Text Presentation on Reading Efficiency’.
Soumyadeep’s project explored how artificial intelligence can improve reading accessibility, particularly for individuals with dyslexia and other reading challenges.
Using deep learning and custom AI models, he developed a system that analyses text and dynamically adjusts its presentation — including paragraph structure, spacing, sentence complexity, and keyword highlighting — to enhance readability and comprehension.
The project also examined the potential of eye-tracking technology to adapt text in real time, with the long-term aim of integrating the system into a portable device.
Soumyadeep will now progress to the SciFest national final, where he will compete for the opportunity to represent Ireland at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May 2027.
The runner-up Best Project Award was presented to Farrah Corbett from Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, for her project, ‘AI Driven Planting System to Help Combat the Ongoing Air Pollution Crisis’, which explored innovative approaches to environmental sustainability using artificial intelligence.