No Science Display Board Needed! But If it’s April…..There must Be a Science Fair!!
Yes, there was! And the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair has come a long way – from the hand drawn pasted up plywood backboards of 1960, to the professional level graphics spewed out by large computer driven panel printers of last year, to the multi-media on– line presentations of this year! Welcome to the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair 2021, Virtual Edition!
Students have uploaded videos explaining their work along with slide shows, pictures and graphics all displayed in a slick interface that allows easy access to all elements of their projects. In addition, they were each interviewed by telephone.
So… is this too good to be true! Partly. There are some real drawbacks. They missed the face –to-face interactions. No encouraging judges. No galvanizing interplay with like-minded young scientists. No exciting demonstrations and activities on the display floor!
And it was a real test of perseverance to not only complete a science project but also to navigate a cranky new registration system. So… accolades go to all who managed to complete and upload their great displays. Congratulations also to Youth Science Canada for the provision of the truly great online platform used by the participants.
This year we had a large pool of experienced enthusiastic judges, including his Worship Mayor Mitch Panciuk, examine the projects. They had difficult decisions to make. There were a lot of prizes and special awards that were available due to the generosity of local individuals and businesses. They continue to provide opportunities for our amazing students to display their creativity and brilliance. Projects can be viewed at https://projectboard.world/ysc/regional and select Quinte.
The results of this Saturdays judging follow:
Best in Grade 4: Free Fall Balloons, Ares Worsley, Bird’s Creek Public School, Grade 4
Best in Grade 5: Masking More Than Just Germs, Emily Hudacin, Harmony P.S. Grade 5
Best in Grade 6: Snowbot Surya Narayan Santhakumar – HPE Virtual School Grade 6
Best in Grade 7: The Study of How Students Learn Best – Luisa McGilly, Taguen Tsokos – St. Paul Catholic S.S. Grade 7
2021 Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair Expo-sciences régionale de Quinte
Best in Grade 8:MENTAL LOOP: Mental Health during the Pandemic -Emma Cribby – St. Joseph Catholic School Grade 8
Best in Grades 9-12: The Increased Concussion Risk of the Dehydrated Brain – Jay Solomon – Eastside Secondary School – Grade 10
Best in Fair Junior: Snowbot Surya Narayan Santhakumar – HPEDSB Virtual School Grade 6
Best in Fair Intermediate:MENTAL LOOP: Mental Health during the Pandemic -Emma Cribby – St. Joseph Catholic School Grade 8
Best in Fair Senior: The Increased Concussion Risk of the Dehydrated Brain – Jay Solomon – Eastside Secondary School – Grade 10
“The students continue to impress us every year”, stated Scott Berry, co-chair of QRSTF, “with their well-done projects and scientific research. We look forward to our in-person science fair next year at Loyalist College.”
Five students from our area will compete in this years Canada Wide Science Fair to be held virtually this year. From May 17-21 there will be a series of activities culminating in a competition for almost one million dollars in prize money. The Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is the country’s largest annual youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event, bringing together top young scientists and their projects, selected from ournational network of over 100 regional STEM fairs in every province and territory.The five students who are competing at the CWSF this year are:
1.The Increased Concussion Risk of the Dehydrated Brain – Jay Solomon – Eastside Secondary School – Grade 10
2.Fire Feuds – Fire vs Liquids – Nina Graciano – HPEDSB Virtual School – Grade 8
3.The Study of How Students Learn Best –-Luisa McGilly, Taguen Tsokos – St. Paul Catholic S.S.Grade 7
4.MENTAL LOOP: Mental Health during the Pandemic – Emma Cribby – St. Joseph Catholic SchoolGrade 8
Our awards presentation was displayed online on our social media platforms and on our website at www.qrstf.ca
We would like to thank all our sponsors, teachers, parents, judges, participants and the QRSTF committee for putting on an overwhelmingly successful science fair
Above is a press release from the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair Committee.
