Students Fair Well at National Science Fair

Nova Scotia students have brought home one gold, one silver and three bronze medals from the Canada-Wide Science Fair held May 11-19 in Saskatoon, Sask.

The fair hosted 420 students from across the country. Nova Scotia sent 23 students with 19 projects to the fair. They earned their places on the provincial team through regional science fairs held across the province in March.

"All Nova Scotia students who took part in regional science fairs are as much to be commended on their initiative as those who won awards at the national level," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "I encourage all of our students to take every opportunity in their schools and communities to pursue their interests in science."

Jenna McNeil, a Grade 8 student at Truro Junior High School, won the gold medal in the junior physical science category. There were 17 entries in the category.

Her project, The Dirt on Floors, compared different wood flooring systems for sporting venues. She took an interest in the subject of flooring because of plans for a new school to replace hers. Jenna won the same award last year for a project that compared wood and synthetic flooring.

"I was excited about winning a gold medal for the second year in a row," said Jenna. "The science fair is a great experience and a wonderful way to meet people from across the country through science."

Jenna also won the Intel Communication Award for the quality of her project presentation and the junior Petro Canada Peer Award, based on a vote by Atlantic Canadian students attending the fair. While it is too early for specific plans, she hopes her future education will involve science.

Grade 12 Horton High student Andra Forney won a full scholarship to study science in Israel this summer. The scholarship is from the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science. Andra won the award for her project on preventing ozone damage to peas through Vitamin C treatments.

"I was shocked when I won it, but I think it's the perfect award for me," said Andra, who also received an honourable mention for her project in the senior life-science category. "I'm interested in the interactions among organisms in our environment and I like the connections among them. And I love to travel."

Andra's post-secondary pursuits will be in the fields of environmental science and international development.

Grade 10 students Stephanie MacDonald and Tiffany Beks of Dalbrae Academy in Mabou won a silver medal for their project on the effects of road salt. They competed in the intermediate earth and environmental sciences category.

Bronze medals were awarded to:

• Jung 'Kelly' Pang, Bible Hill Junior High School, intermediate physical sciences
• Jim Proudfoot and Celia Peters, New Glasgow Middle School, intermediate engineering
• Mara and Ruth Jochum, Guysborough Academy, senior earth and environmental sciences

Jim and Celia also won the Petro Canada Peer Award for the intermediate category.

Honourable mentions went to:

• Hank Harbers and Richard Lutz, Hantsport School, intermediate engineering
• Katie Carignan-Jackson and Andréa Robichaud, École Rose des Vents, Greenwood, senior physical sciences
• Hayley Giles and Katie Upham, Truro Junior High School, intermediate engineering
• Jason Kay, Trenton Middle High School, senior engineering

Other students who represented Nova Scotia at the fair are:

• Kristy Waalderbos, E.B. Chandler Junior High School, Amherst
• Ashley Sutherland, Pictou Academy, Pictou
• Zachary McCara, West Pictou Consolidated, Lyons Brook
• Matthias Bieber, Chedabucto Education Centre, Guysborough
• Claire DeLong, North Queens Rural High School, Caledonia
• Thomas Veinot, North Queens Rural High School, Caledonia

There were 337 projects entered in six divisions at this year's fair. Each division had three age categories -- junior for Grade 7 and 8 students, intermediate for Grade 9 and 10 students and senior for Grade 11 and 12 students.

The annual event is organized by the Canada Youth Science Foundation. Its mission is to stimulate an interest in science and technology among young Canadians, encouraging more of them to pursue educational and career opportunities in these areas.