Students Win Seven Medals at Science Fair

Two Grade 12 students from Horton High School led the way as Nova Scotia took seven medals at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in St. John's, NL, last week.

Ian Dugas and Jaime McDonald won a gold medal in the Life Sciences division for Bugs and Blueberries, an experiment that showed concentrated blueberry juice has potential as an antibiotic.

"This is our province's best showing in many years at the national level and it is well-deserved," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "Our students' understanding of scientific approaches and their ability to apply them is truly impressive. Congratulations to all the students, teachers and parents involved in this year's event."

The other medal winners were:

• Julia Frenette, Horton High School: silver medal, physical and mathematical sciences, for Clue.
• Jenna McNeil, Cobequid Educational Centre: silver medal, engineering and computing sciences, for Explosive Colour.
• Rachel Ritacco, Truro Junior High School: bronze medal, physical and mathematical sciences, for Less Is More.
• Luke Rae and Matthew Baxter, Park View Education Centre: bronze medal, physical and mathematical sciences, for Electrostatic Flight.
• Adam Hinchey, St. Andrew Junior School: bronze medal, life sciences, for The Green Gobbler.
• Aaron LeBlanc, Maple Grove Education Centre: bronze medal, physical and mathematical sciences, for Les trous de lapins (Rabbit Holes).

Like many scientific projects, Bugs and Blueberries contributed new knowledge even though the results were unexpected.

Mr. Dugas and Ms. McDonald had thought a particular component of blueberry juice would have strong antibiotic properties, but found the juice worked better as a whole.

The students said the results should form the basis of further investigation.

The Nova Scotia science curriculum supports teachers in helping children develop their scientific literacy. This offers students a foundation for problem-solving, inquiry, decision-making, and lifelong learning.

The Canada-Wide Science Fair, which attracts about 450 young scientists and another 450 volunteers annually, will be held in Truro in 2007.