Students, Siblings Win Science Awards

Three young scientists from Truro have won silver medals at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Calgary, May 10 to 18.

Two of the medalists are siblings from Truro Junior High School. Jay and Jenna McNeil both competed in engineering divisions.

"The best way to learn is by doing, and that's what our students have been proving with their science fair projects," said Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. "I offer my congratulations to our award winners, and all the young scientists who represented Nova Scotia at the fair. I also want to thank their teachers for encouraging students to pursue science at this level."

Grade 7 student Jay McNeil took second place in the junior engineering division for his invention of a neck protector for hockey players. His tests of the equipment show that it reduces the risk of injury to the cervical spine without restricting the player's neck mobility.

Mr. McNeil is also bringing home the $700 EIC Junior Engineering Innovation Award and the Petro Canada Peer Innovation Award in his age category for the Atlantic region.

His sister, Jenna McNeil, competed in the intermediate engineering division. She won the silver medal for her project on detecting plastic explosives to improve aviation security. She is a Grade 9 student at Truro Junior High.

Katie Atkinson, a Grade 10 student at Cobequid Education Centre, won her medal in the intermediate earth and environmental sciences division. She tested the levels of pH, total suspended solids, phosphate, nitrate and sulfate along the Salmon River to determine if these elements have an effect on Truro's water quality.

Each medal winner received $700 and a $1,000 entrance scholarship to the University of Western Ontario.

Janice Cameron, a Grade 8 student at Riverside Education Centre in Milford, won the $250 Canadian Junior Association of Physics Award. Her project in the junior physics division explored how the concepts of muscle action could be used to build a simple, walking robot.

Honourable mentions went to:

• Luke Brannen, Grade 9, Barrington High School, Barrington Passage, junior physics division
• Louise Brennen, Grade 12, Dr. J.H. Gillis Regional School, Antigonish, senior earth and environmental sciences division
• Natalie Lamothe, Grade 9, Bible Hill Junior High School, Bible Hill, intermediate earth and environmental sciences division
• Alex Legge, Grade 9, Bayview Community School, Mahone Bay, intermediate biotechnology division
• Cameron Williams, Grade 11, Central Kings High School, Cambridge Station, senior engineering division.

Ms. Lamothe also won the Petro Canada Peer Innovation Award in her age category for the Atlantic region.