Latest news with #YouthScienceCanada
CTV News
3 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Young minds explore big questions at National Science Fair
Sarah Plowman has the story of the 63rd annual Canada-wide Science Fair in Fredericton, N.B. showcasing some of the country's brightest scientific minds. Canada's brightest whiz kids converged on Fredericton, N.B., this week for a national science fair, showing off their research projects and hoping to earn a chance to win some of the event's $1.3 million in prize and scholarship money. Reni Barlow, executive director of Youth Science Canada, said his organization is on a mission to engage youth in doing projects through STEM -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. 'It's a way of understanding what science, technology, engineering and math are really about and experiencing it firsthand,' said Barlow, adding that topics range from aerospace to natural resources and climate change. The nearly 400 students competing were previously recognized at one of 100 regional science fairs in Canada. Six universities are providing scholarships to medal winners. The weeklong event wraps up this weekend. Sara Waqas, a 16-year-old from Calgary's STEM Innovation Academy High School, won the award for Best Project in the Discovery category. She focused her project on schizophrenia and treatment, developing a prototype molecule that would target schizophrenia patients who are currently treatment-resistant—which she points out is about a third of patients. 'I look into neurobiological profiling,' she said. 'I designed a prototype molecule that would target those defects, rather than just being like a large, nonspecific treatment.' Waqas says her research is all 'very preliminary' and that more validation tests and research need to confirm it. Evan Budz, a grade 9 student from Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School in Burlington, Ont., won the award for Best Project in the Innovation category. After getting inspired by the fluid movement of a snapping sea turtle, he created a robot that moves like one. 'I thought it'd be interesting to try to replicate it with a robot that would have a much lower impact on the swimming environment, compared with more traditional propeller-based systems,' he said. Budz's robot uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and monitor threats in aquatic environments, such as invasive species and coral bleaching. 'I'm working at adding more in the future,' he said. 'This allows a variety of important organizations to go and conduct remedial efforts in these areas, essentially allowing them to improve the health of aquatic ecosystems.' Mateo Jarquin, a first-year CEGEP student at Champlain College-Lennoxville in Sherbrooke, Que., developed a robotic hand called F.L.E.X (Fully Leveraged Exo-Hand). The hand tracks and mirrors finger movements in real time and can be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world with a camera. It doesn't require gloves or physical attachments. His cousin, who lives in Ontario, tested it and was able to control the robotic hand. 'And he was able to control the robotic hand from Ontario all the way to Quebec, as if it was his actual hand in front of me,' he said. 'This type of technology could one day be used to perform tasks that are too dangerous for humans, such as disarming a bomb or performing space station repairs. Maybe even surgery from across the world could all be possible.' Sarah McGrath, a grade 10 student at Halifax Grammar School in Nova Scotia, focused her project on whether she could make fish feed for aquaculture by growing microalgae with recycled fish byproducts, like bones, tails and eyes. 'This microalgae is rich in Omega-3s, which is important because fish don't produce Omega-3,' she said, noting that the important dietary nutrient for human health is sourced from what fish eat. She said her method is a cost-effective and sustainable way to grow microalgae. 'This matters because fish stocks are depleting and the quality of our fish is rapidly decreasing,' she said. 'My results show that there's potential to use even more fish byproducts and utilize this waste that exists.' Amy Clark, a 15-years-old from Sanford Collegiate in Sanford, Man., combined her passion for physics and the environment into a research topic and looked at which Prairie province has the highest amount of radon in its soil. In her study, where she sampled soil from a few spots in Manitoba, along with Regina and Calgary, Manitoba had the highest levels of radon. She explained that increased levels of radon in soil can attribute to health risks, noting that radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. As fun as it was to build the project, Clark is also excited to be at nationals, saying the event is more than just talking about your project. 'It's about making friends and meeting new people. Connecting with people who are like-minded individuals,' she said. 'They love science. You love science, so they're really easy to talk to you.'
National Post
5 days ago
- Science
- National Post
Canada's Top Youth Scientists Awarded $1.3 Million at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton
Article content FREDERICTON, New Brunswick — From groundbreaking schizophrenia treatment research to innovative sea turtle robots, Canada's top young scientists showcased world-class research and innovation this week at the 63rd Canada-Wide Science Fair. At an awards ceremony this evening at the University of New Brunswick, 219 finalists were recognized with nearly $1.3 million in scholarships and awards at the country's premier youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event. The fair's Best Project Award in Discovery went to Sara Waqas from Calgary for her project, 'Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach', while the Best Project in Innovation went to Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for his project 'Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI'. Article content 'Tonight's winners are a powerful example of the impact youth can make through STEM,' said Reni Barlow, Executive Director at Youth Science Canada, organizers of the Canada-Wide Science Fair 2025. Article content 'This week, we've witnessed the power of youth curiosity in action,' said Reni Barlow, Executive Director at Youth Science Canada, organizers of the event. 'Every student who undertakes a STEM project deserves to be celebrated for their dedication and creativity. Tonight's winners are a powerful example of the impact youth can make through STEM.' Article content Top winners, selected by over 200 judges, include: Article content Best Project Awards Best Project: Discovery Article content Sara Waqas from Calgary, Alberta, for Article content Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Best Project: Innovation Article content Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for Article content Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Platinum Awards – Discovery Best Junior (Grade 7/8) Article content Claire Sehn from Peterborough, Ontario, for Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep) Article content Hejin Wang from Saint John, New Brunswick, for Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Article content Platinum Awards – Innovation Best Junior (Grade 7/8) Article content Trisha Haldar from Windsor, Ontario, for Article content Visual Drug Interaction Checker Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep) Article content Chloe Rae Filion and Sophie Rose Filion from Fenwick, Ontario, for Article content The Home Smog Alarm: How clean is your home's air? Article content Link to project Article content * * * * * Article content The 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair featured 390 student finalists, from Grade 7 through Cégep, showcasing 339 projects. The event drew more than 5,000 visitors and more than 30,000 online viewers. The Canada-Wide Science Fair and STEM Expo continue in person at the University of New Brunswick tomorrow, Friday, June 6, until 2:30 p.m. ADT, with projects remaining online for public viewing afterward. Article content The 64 th edition of the Canada-Wide Science Fair will be held at the Edmonton EXPO Centre and the University of Alberta from May 23 to 30, 2026. Article content Members of the public are invited to meet the best project and platinum award winners on Friday, June 6, at 8:30 a.m. ADT in the Richard J. Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick. The panel discussion will also be broadcast live. Article content Media members are encouraged to participate. Article content Winners will be available for media interviews throughout the week of June 9, 2025, by contacting Mary Moniz at mary@ Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information: Article content Mary Moniz Article content Article content Torchia Communications Article content Article content Article content Article content 647-278-0152 Article content Article content mary@ Article content
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Science
- Business Wire
Canada's Top Youth Scientists Awarded $1.3 Million at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From groundbreaking schizophrenia treatment research to innovative sea turtle robots, Canada's top young scientists showcased world-class research and innovation this week at the 63rd Canada-Wide Science Fair. At an awards ceremony this evening at the University of New Brunswick, 219 finalists were recognized with nearly $1.3 million in scholarships and awards at the country's premier youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event. The fair's Best Project Award in Discovery went to Sara Waqas from Calgary for her project, "Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach", while the Best Project in Innovation went to Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for his project "Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI". "Tonight's winners are a powerful example of the impact youth can make through STEM," said Reni Barlow, Executive Director at Youth Science Canada, organizers of the Canada-Wide Science Fair 2025. Share "This week, we've witnessed the power of youth curiosity in action," said Reni Barlow, Executive Director at Youth Science Canada, organizers of the event. "Every student who undertakes a STEM project deserves to be celebrated for their dedication and creativity. Tonight's winners are a powerful example of the impact youth can make through STEM." * * * * * Top winners, selected by over 200 judges, include: Best Project Awards Best Project: Discovery Sara Waqas from Calgary, Alberta, for Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach. Link to project Best Project: Innovation Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI. Link to project Platinum Awards - Discovery Best Junior (Grade 7/8) Claire Sehn from Peterborough, Ontario, for Beat the Blaze: Preventing Wildfires and Drought With a Novel, Biodegradable Treatment. Link to project Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep) Hejin Wang from Saint John, New Brunswick, for Controlling Humongous Fungus: Cyanobacteria as a Biocontrol Agent for Root Rot Fungus. Link to project Platinum Awards - Innovation Best Junior (Grade 7/8) Trisha Haldar from Windsor, Ontario, for Visual Drug Interaction Checker. Link to project Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep) Chloe Rae Filion and Sophie Rose Filion from Fenwick, Ontario, for The Home Smog Alarm: How clean is your home's air? Link to project * * * * * The 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair featured 390 student finalists, from Grade 7 through Cégep, showcasing 339 projects. The event drew more than 5,000 visitors and more than 30,000 online viewers. The Canada-Wide Science Fair and STEM Expo continue in person at the University of New Brunswick tomorrow, Friday, June 6, until 2:30 p.m. ADT, with projects remaining online for public viewing afterward. The 64 th edition of the Canada-Wide Science Fair will be held at the Edmonton EXPO Centre and the University of Alberta from May 23 to 30, 2026. Members of the public are invited to meet the best project and platinum award winners on Friday, June 6, at 8:30 a.m. ADT in the Richard J. Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick. The panel discussion will also be broadcast live. Media members are encouraged to participate. Winners will be available for media interviews throughout the week of June 9, 2025, by contacting Mary Moniz at mary@ Photos and videos, as well as the complete list of Canada-Wide Science Fair award recipients, are available here: CWSF 2025 Media Kit About Youth Science Canada Youth Science Canada empowers all Canadian youth to engage their curiosity in discovering and innovating through STEM projects. A registered charity incorporated in 1966, YSC delivers on its mission through national programs, including mySTEMspace, the National STEM Fair Network, Canada-Wide Science Fair, STEM Expo, Team Canada representation at international fairs and Smarter Science professional development for teachers. Through these programs, YSC directly supports the more than 500,000 students who do STEM projects in any given year. For more information, visit
