CWSF 2006-Saguenay Quebec - May 13-21
CWSF 2006-Saguenay Quebec - May 13-21
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Team Quinte » for CWSF 2006: from left to right:
Jim Trevison, Connor Emdin, Jo-Anne Peckham,Isaac Bass,Mr. Gielen ,Fiona Emdin,Scott Berry, Erik Yao, Christopher Spencer,Nicolas Durish
Jim Trevison, Connor Emdin, Jo-Anne Peckham,Isaac Bass,Mr. Gielen ,Fiona Emdin,Scott Berry, Erik Yao, Christopher Spencer,Nicolas Durish
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Scan of Internationally Trained Professionals
in the Biotech Sector
Canada’s Biotechnology Human Resource Council (BHRC) has conducted
a Canada-wide environmental survey of internationally trained professionals
in the biotechnology sector. BHRC’s goals were to use labour market and sector information to determine any issues regarding recruiting, integrating and retaining internationally trained professionals, as part of the council's aim to address the skills shortage issues within the biotechnology sector. The survey results were not available at press time.
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Describe the experience of competing
in the world’s largest science fair.
A: The science fair itself is enormous. [At the Intel fair], you compete against
about fifteen hundred people. The first time I went (two years ago), it was five
times bigger than the biggest science fair I had seen in my life, which was the
Canada-wide science fair. And every single project is of an extraordinary quality.
The minimum requirement to be a judge is a PhD, so they really know their stuff.
By the time the judges get to your booth on the first judging day they already know
all about your project, and are really there to see how comfortable you are with it. It’s
a very challenging thing, but usually you end up having really nice discussions like
what you would have at the lab with your fellow labmates.
Q: What is your project about?
A: The point of my project was to find a new way to be able to identify the
cause of an infection in a patient, and keep the costs low. I focused on using an
electrochemical detection method and linked that to biological events, targeting
the DNA of what I wanted to identify. I’m bringing biological detection, which
can be very specific and fast, to the chemical events instead of using timeconsuming or cost-inefficient methods like fluorescence, or radioactivity. In a hospital today in Canada, it takes
about three or four days for the medical staff to be able to identify exactly which type of bacteria, fungus or yeast is causing an infection. So including the time before you’re sick enough to actually go to the hospital and the time to find the right antibodies it could be over a week.
After that it could be impossible to treat your infection and you could die. So the problem is time. Linked to this is cost. You could do the necessary identification within half an hour right
now with current fluorescence methods, but you need a fluorescence reader
that costs anywhere between $200,000 and half a million dollars. Also, the fluorescent reagents themselves are expensive. Did those issues lead or inspire you to what ultimately became your
final project?
A: Actually, the way I came to this was not [in the usual way of] seeing a problem
and then working on a solution. Through science fair projects I had
started to work on using a series of chemical reactions to develop new ways
of doing things. I got really interested in ways that you can take protein A that
you want to see, and with a series of reactions, get to a point where you can
detect it in an easy way—it’s like a game, pretty much. So then, you add in
to that what you want to detect— pathogens in this case. I had the idea
before I had seen the problems to which I could really apply it.
Q: What are your future goals and plans—is science in your future?
A: I would like to go to medical school. But, I don’t want to be limited to working
just as a physician. I would like to get into research and development.
After I have my MD, I’d like to do a PhD in research or in engineering, or a
technological field, and do research either in the central nervous system or
in immunology.
Q: Perhaps we’ll see you on our
pages in the future.
A: Hopefully. (laughs)
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O’Connor, Sarah. The Grapes of Math. An investigation into the growing of 18
varietals of Grapes at Roshard Acres in Lillooet, BC. Ashcroft Secondary School.
May 13, 2006. Canada Wide Science Fair. (Sarah won the local and provincial
competitions with her project and the right to represent British Columbia in the
Canada Wide Science fair. She received a silver medal for her work and
presentation. She was subsequently asked to present her project at the Taiwanese
International Science Fair).
8) Young Scientist O’Connor earns trip to national Science fair. The Bridge River
Lillooet News. May 24, 2006 Page 16.
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Caitlin Tolley:
Caitlin is a 15-year-old high school student from Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg in Quebec and is focused on a bright future. She speaks fluent Algonquin and is a jingle dress dancer. Caitlin
learned about her Algonquin culture from her grandparents. Due to her academic achievements, contributions to her community and her leadership qualities, Caitlin was recognized by the Foundation for the Advancement of Aboriginal Youth. Caitlin also participated in the Forum for Young Canadians on Parliament Hill. She was especially proud to represent the Aboriginal people of Quebec at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Saguenay, Quebec. Caitlin’s extra time is devoted to volunteer work, hockey and her rock band, which is called House Band. Caitlin encourages youth to “learn today and lead tomorrow.”
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2006 Science Fair
The 2006 Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair was held Saturday, April 1 at the Quinte Mall. The event featured 200 projects representing the efforts of more than 270 young
scientists from across the Quinte area. The top 5 contestants, pictured from left to right, Connor
(Moira), Isaac (Harry J. Clarke Destinations), Fiona (Harry J. Clarke Destinations), Erik (Moira), Nic (Harry J. Clarke Destinations) will now travel to Lac Saint-Saguenay Quebec to represent the Quinte region at the Canada Wide Science Fair which is held from May 13-21.
The top 5 contestants, pictured from left to right, Connor (Moira), Isaac (Harry J. Clarke Destinations), Fiona (Harry J. Clarke Destinations), Erik (Moira), Nic (Harry J. Clarke
Destinations) will now travel to Lac Saint-Saguenay Quebec to represent the Quinte region at the Canada Wide Science Fair which is held from May 13-21. In the back row are Jim Trevisan (co-chair), Jo-Anne Peckham (publicity committee), Frank Geilen (chair of The Learning Foundation), Scott Berry (publicity committee), and Chris Spencer (co-chair).
Photo Dominic Tremblay
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How to Get Involved in Youth Parliament
PHILIP EDGCUMBE graduated from Kitsilano Secondary School as a National
AP Scholar in 2006 and is now studying Engineering Physics at the University of
British Columbia. Philip participated in Biotrek, Gene Researcher for a Week,
and the Mini-Med program. His science project won a bronze medal at the
Canada Wide Science Fair and placed 4th in the Sanofi-Aventis National
competition. On November 6th, 2006 Philip spoke to 900 people at the BC
Innovation Council Awards dinner about the importance of science fairs for
students. Outside of science, Philip participated in the French for the Future
National Youth Conference in Fredericton and the Vancouver Model United
Nations. Philip is active in the community, volunteering at Keats Camp and
coaching school basketball and soccer.
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Youth Science Foundation
Science Fair
Including over 8000 dedicated parents, teachers and scientists, YSF Canada is involved in programs setting standards for scientific experimentation by young people, promoting higher order learning through science and technology fairs and attracting involvement of scientists, educators, parents, the public and private sector. Half a million young scientists participate in science fairs across Canada each year
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The Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology (MICB)
HIGHLIGHTSTed Paranjothya Grade 11 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate, is the youngest member of Dr. Marek Los' lab. After successfully placing in the Sanofi-Aventis Biotechnology Challenge, Ted went on to the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Quebec and we are pleased to note he received a Senior Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Silver Medal, the Manning Innovation Achievement Award and the Manning Young Canadian Innovation Award. He also captured entrance scholarships to University of British Columbia and the University of Western Ontario. His project, entitled "Novel Tumour-Specific Apoptosis Inducing Peptide Derivatives of Apoptin," will continue to be his focus when he returns to the lab in July. Ted was recently one of six students to receive the University of Manitoba –Leadership of Tomorrow scholarship.
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BinudithWarnakulasooriya, an Arthur A. Leach Junior High School, is a 14 year old student, supervised by Dr. Marek Los. Although in Canada just since 2005, he has already won in 2006 Silver Medal for Junior level at Science Fair (SSS and MYSE). This year he has been even more successful, his project was awarded the distinctions: Most Outstanding Science Project (SSS-Provincial competition, intermediate age level), Manitoba Youth Stewardship in Environmental Sustainability (Platinum award), and he also represented Manitoba at the Canada-wide Science Competition in Nova Scotia, where his project was awarded an honorable mention.
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Ontario Students Win at Canada-Wide Science Fair
There were over 455 students, from grades 7 and 12, participating in the Canada-Wide Science
Fair (CWSF), which took place from May 13-21 in Saguenay, Quebec.
Here are some of the Ontario winners:
Sarah McCuaig, a grade 10 student at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School (Waterloo) won a
bronze medal for her work on how antibacterial toothpaste can harm useful bacteria in the
human gastrointestinal system. She also won a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Western
Ontario and an invitation to the 12-day National Youth Science Forum in Canberra to work with
University of Australia professors in their labs.
Daniel Burd (Waterloo) won a gold medal and a $1,500 cash prize in the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical sciences category for his investigation into how chicken feathers could be
biodegraded into feed. He also won a $2,000 scholarship from the University of Western Ontario
and the $700 Dr. Michael Smith Innovation Award.
Jonathon Tomkun a Grade 12 student at St. John's-Kilmarnock School near Breslau earned a
bronze medal, $300 cash and a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Western Ontario. His
project measured the air pressure as balls are spun when exposed to varying wind speeds. He
also won the Senior Physics prize of $250.
Fiona Emdin and Isaac Bass, Grade 7 Destination Program students from Harry J. Clarke School
but attending classes at Moira Secondary School (Quinte region), won a silver medal and a $700
prize in the junior category for their project called: "Substandard surfaces: Northern Leopard
Frogs avoid man-made and disturbed surfaces during autumn migration".
Erik Yao a Grade 10 student at Moira Secondary School (Quinte region), won a silver medal and
a $700 prize in the intermediate division for his experiment called: "Saving your water:
mathematically optimizing sprinkler irrigation". He also received a Petro Canada Peer innovation
award and a monetary prize of $200.
Connor Emdin, a Grade 9 student at Moira Secondary School (Quinte region), won a bronze
medal and a $300 prize in the intermediate division for his experiment called: "The efficacy of
corn gluten meal, fatty acids, acetic acid and glyphosphate on Vincetoxicum rossicum growing
under field conditions."
Justin Reardon, of Bishop Smith Catholic High School (Renfrew region), won a bronze medal in
Senior Computing and Information Technology, for his project called: "The Hierarchical
Clustering System: Finding Similarities in Data Using Hierarchical Clustering." He also won
$300, a certificate sponsored by Intel Canada Ltd., and a University of Western Ontario
scholarship of $1000.
Roopa Suppiah, of Mackenzie High School in Deep River (Renfrew region), won a number of
awards for her project called: "Sun Shines on Wind Power." She won the Intermediate AECL
Award for Excellence in Science, which included $750 and a certificate sponsored by Atomic
Energy of Canada Ltd.
Derek Clouthier of Arnprior District High School (Renfrew region), won the Senior Ontario North
and East Petro-Canada Peer Innovation Award, $200 and a certificate sponsored by Petro-Canada
for his project called: "How to Maximize your Concentration and Brain Performance."
Philip Schmidt, a Grade 12 student at Fenelon Falls Secondary School in Woodville, placed
second overall at the Canada-Wide Science Fair competition and won close to $10,000 in
scholarships for his project called: "Cornboard". By using corn residue he developed a material
for use in place of wood construction and which could provide farmers with an alternative income
source.
Charlaine Ziegler, a Grade 8 student at St. Nicolas' School in Barrie, won a bronze medal and a
$1,000 scholarship for her science fair project. She built a miniature Savonius wind turbine that
can pump out 4.5 volts — just enough power to turn on a flashlight.
Alexandria Tsimiklis, a Grade 8 student from Marymount Academy in Sudbury, won a gold medal
in the fair's Life Sciences category, junior division, and an entrance scholarship to the University
of Western Ontario for her project that demonstrated the effect and dangers of fumes on Teflon
pans.
Ashley Patel, a Grade 8 student from Peterborough, won the $500 Actuarial Foundation of
Canada Award for her project that showed there is no correlation between scores on cognitive
tests and academic performance.
Tyson Gratton, a Grade 12 student at Denis Morris High School in St. Catharines, won an
expenses-paid research summer at a prestigious Israeli institute — the Wiezmann Institute of
Science. He also won a bronze medal in the health sciences division for his project called:
"Metabolism and its processes: in vitro", which looked at the speed at which cells from different
animals metabolize.
Bryan Wilger, a Grade 7 student at Bishop Hamilton School in Ottawa, won a gold medal, $1,500
and a $2,000 scholarship to the University of Western Ontario for his robot named: "Shallow
Blue". His robot uses a light sensor to scan a board, filled with foam squares representing X and
O, and figures out what move to make. It then uses an arm to point to the square it wants to
mark.
Michelle Morin, a Grade 7 student at Sacred Heart High School in Stittsville, won a bronze medal
for her portable panic alarm called: "Jennifer Alert". She designed a button, as small as a penny,
that can be connected to a cell phone or BlackBerry carried by a child. When the button is
pressed, it sends as e-mail or text message to police, parents and whoever else the child carrying
it wants to alert if they're being attacked. The button also has a locator that lets people getting
the messages know where the child is.
Prashanti Baskaran, a Grade 10 student at Elmwood School (Ottawa region), won a prize in the
medical science field and $500 for her project that studied two of the most potent moulds in
indoor environments, and identifying the parts inside those species that cause allergic reactions
in people.
Megan Schlorff, a Grade 7 student at Holy Family School (Grey-Bruce region), won a gold medal
in the junior physical and mathematical sciences division, $1,500 and a $2,000 scholarship to
the University of Western Ontario for her project called: "What's the Spatter?" Her project
proved blood and water spatter according to the same formula.
Allan McKechnie, a Grade 8 student at Central Senior School in Lindsay, won a gold medal in the
earth and environmental services division and a $2,000 scholarship from the University of
Western Ontario for his project called: "Dune't You Worry?" His project focused on the use of
vegetation rather than fences to reduce, and hopefully prevent the erosion of sand dunes.
Katie Pietrzakowski, a student from Sault Ste. Marie, won a bronze medal in the earth and
environmental sciences, junior division, for her project called: "Shock the Grey."
Jonathan Hodgins (student from Victoria County) won a gold medal in the senior computing and
information technology category, $1,500 and a $6,000 scholarship for his project called: "Writing
on the Wall." He created a computer-controlled robotic hand that could write.
Alexandra Milak, a Grade 9 student at Innisdale Secondary School in Barrie, was awarded the
Actuarial Foundation of Canada Award for her project called: "Smart Stuff 2 — Multiple
Intelligence and Human Cognition." Her project investigated multiple intelligence theories by creating new intelligence tests and comparing them to the traditional tests.
Three Ontario Students Win Manning Innovation Awards at
Canada-Wide Science Fair
Three students from Ontario were awarded the Manning Innovation Achievement Award for their
work at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, which took place from May 13-21 in Saguenay, Quebec.
This is a prestigious award that recognizes the innovations of bright "Canadian" minds at the high
school level.
Philip Schmidt, a Grade 12 student from Fenelon Falls, Ontario, was recognized with both a
Manning Innovation Achievment Award and a Manning Young Canadian Innovation Award for
developing a fibreboard made of corn stover (residue). In addition, Philip's innovation was
recognized with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO's Science for Peace and Development
Award and the Silver Medal in the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences division.
Kayla Cornale, a Grade 11 student from Burlington, Ontario, was awarded the Manning
Innovation Achievement Award for "Sounds into Syllables II: Windows to the World of Childhood
Autisim". In addition, Kayla was also awarded the EnCana Best in Fair Award, the EnCana
Platinum Award for Best Senior Project, the Gold Medal in the Health Sciences division and the
Canadian Psychological Association Award.
Sean Bhalla, a Grade 12 student from Mississauga, Ontario was recognized with a Manning
Innovation Achievement Award for his project called "Photodynamic Therapy: A Red Light for
Cancer". In addition, Sean also won the Silver Medal in the Health Sciences division from the
University of Western Ontario.
Ontario Youth Come Home Winners at 2006 Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
From May 7-13, 2006, close to 1,500 students from 47 countries were competing for nearly $4
million worth of scholarships and prizes at the 2006 Intel International Science and Engineering
Fair (ISEF) that took place in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nineteen students from Canada competed at the science and engineering fair — 11 brought home
prizes. Here is a list of Ontario winners:
Kayla Cornale, a Grade 11 student from Burlington, Ontario, won a $3,000 US first-place grand
award in the behavioural and social sciences category for her project called "Sounds into
Syllables" which uses music to teach children with autism.
David Wang, a Grade 11 student from London, Ontario, won a $3,000 botany award for
discovering an alternative treatment for Type 1 diabetes made from tobacco plants. He also
earned an honourable mention from the Endocrine Society.
Anne Marie Child, a Grade 9 student from Hamilton, Ontario, won the $500 fourth-place grand
award for chemistry and a trip to China from the China Association for Science and Technology
for her project called "Date Rape Drugs: Can They Be Detected".
Philip Schmidt, a Grade 12 student from Fenelon Falls, Ontario, won $2,000 for the first-place
United Technologies Corp., award for his project called "Cornboard". He also won the $1,000
scholarship award from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance/The Lemelson
Foundation and a $1,000 third-place grand award in engineering.
Benjamin Gulak and Alexander Molloy, Grade 11 students from Milton and Hamilton, won a
$1,000 first place award and a $1,000 third place award for their team project called: "CSI:
Team Canada Heads-Off to Indianapolis for the 2006 Intel
ISEF
On May 5, 2006, Intel of Canada held a kick-off event for 19 Canadian students who will compete
against 1200 international students for $3.2 million in prizes and scholarships at the 2006 Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Indianapolis, Indiana from May 7-13.
Also announced today was Intel's inspireyouth.ca, a nationwide initiative geared towards inspiring
more Canadian students to pursue science and technology education and careers.
"Tomorrow's innovation economy depends on a highly educated, highly skilled population of young
creative minds," said Ontario Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty.
"On behalf of Ontario families, I commend Intel Canada, Actua, and the YSF in enhancing
mentorship programs aimed at encouraging more Canadian youth to pursue science and
technology careers. I also want to extend my best wishes to Team Canada as they get ready to
compete in Intel's ISEF. The experience of competing in an international science fair not only
exposes our youth to innovative ideas and new experiences but allows them to showcase their
talents on a global scale."
This initiative will enhance the pool of Canadian educators, researchers and industry professionals
who will mentor students and will improve the mentorship programs offered by Youth Science
Foundation Canada (YSF) and Actua, the premier youth science educators and supporters in
Canada.
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CPS-SCP News 49 (4) - 81
Canada-Wide Science Fair
I was pleasantly surprised to see the
commitment of the Plant Pathology Society
of Alberta towards youth science fairs in the province. We need new plant
pathologists and the idea of stimulating interest very early is excellent and might
be relevant for other regional groups if they have not done so already. The Plant
Pathology Society of Alberta gives awards and encourages members to participate as
judges. Byron Puchalski is actively involved in the province and was very
knowledgeable about the importance and the process of the competitions which can
lead to the national fair. This year it will be held in the city of Saguenay, May 16-
17, 2006. There should be some plant pathology presentations. They are looking
for judges and you can contact Robert Loiselle (robert_loiselle@uqac.ca),
Département des sciences fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, if you
are interested. I believe that it is important that CPS is represented.
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YOUTH SCIENCE FOUNDATION CANADA,
CANADA-WIDE SCIENCE FAIR AWARD /
FONDATION SCIENCES JEUNESSE CANADA,
LE PRIX DE L’EXPO-SCIENCE PANCANADIENNE
Best exhibit related to the pulp and paper industry at the
Canada-Wide Science Fair. Consists of a $500.00 cash prize. /
Meilleur kiosque d’exposition sur les pâtes et papiers
présenté dans le cadre de l’Expo-Science pancanadienne.
Le prix est accompagné d’un montant en argent de 500.00 $.
TIFFANY LU, Richmond, BC
“Biopolyurethane Rigid Foams Based on Isolated Lignins”
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Science Fair Chooses Forward Thinking\
After successfully landing a three-year
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grant through the
Trillium Foundation,
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the Renfrew County
Regional Science &
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Technology Fair is
taking a progressive
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step towards
securing it’s future. The
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Fair has partnered
with Forward
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Thinking for a
re-branding plan that will
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increase corporate
support and high
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school
participation.
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“Renfrew County has
strong science-
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based industry, and
local students are
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really doing
exceptional things at the
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national level
competition,” says
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Jennifer Layman,
owner of Forward
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Thinking. “There is
a tremendous
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local students as
future employees. We
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need to take the
Fair to the next level,
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and it’s going to be
really exciting to see
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the success that our
marketing efforts
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will bring.”
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The Fair recently
sent four students to
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the Canada-Wide
Science Fair where
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three returned with
medals - an
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outstanding
achievement at the national
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level. The talent is
here, it’s just a matter
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of encouraging
students to show off their
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skills in return for
scholarships.
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The tie in with the science-based
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industry allows for
smart marketing on
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