Latest news with #sciencefair
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Science
- RNZ News
Wellington students win big at world's oldest and largest science fair
Isabelle Aduna (L) with NIWA chief scientist oceans Dr Mike Williams at the NIWA Wellington Regional Science Fair in 2024. Photo: Supplied / NIWA Two Wellington students have won major awards at the world's oldest and largest science fair, held in the United States. The pair competed against nearly 2000 students from 70 countries at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Ohio. Wellington College Year 13 student Jesse Rumball-Smith took out first place in the behavioural and social sciences category for a smartphone app he developed that detects road risks and helps promote safer driving. Jesse Rumball-Smith. Photo: Supplied / NIWA Wellington Girls' College Year 11 student Isabelle Aduna won third place in the chemistry section for her project that used fruit and vegetable waste as natural dyes for sustainable solar cells. Science educator Amanda Hood said she hoped the success of the first New Zealand team to take part in the prestigious event would inspire other students to enter their upcoming regional science and technology fairs. She backed the establishment of a national science fair so top students could qualify directly for the international event. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Arab News
3 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Students organize science fair to bridge STEM access in Saudi Arabia
DHAHRAN: Two years ago, when freshmen Jungho Kang and Raahim Lone met during a group math project at the American School Dhahran, they quickly bonded over a shared love of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) — and the realization that they wanted to be part of a science-centric competitive space. But as non-Saudis in the Kingdom, no such space existed for them. So, they built one from scratch. Now in 10th grade, the two co-founded SANES (Saudi Arabian National Engineering Symposium), a new, student-led one-day science fair that took place for the first time on Saturday at their school. What began as an ambitious idea between classmates has since grown into a dynamic, Eastern Province-wide event that welcomed more than 60 participants from more than seven schools. Lone, who moved to Saudi Arabia from Canada two years ago, said it took time to adjust to his new home — but building SANES with Kang has helped him find his footing. Living in the same compound made collaboration easy. They found a sweet spot near their homes where they would regularly meet to brainstorm and plan the fair before heading home. It became their unofficial HQ. They spent countless evenings after school refining their vision. 'We spent freshman year working on it. I think this year it's been more consistent so I guess you could say we've been working on it for two years, but we've actually been really working on it for one,' Lone told Arab News with a laugh. From the start, their goal was clear: give all students living in the Kingdom — Saudi and non-Saudi — a chance to present their ideas, gain feedback, and learn from professionals. 'I really hope that every contestant just takes away something good and I hope they can learn something from these judges because we got really good judges — they're all really experienced — and just presenting and communicating their ideas because that was our main goal from the very beginning,' Kang told Arab News. The event featured two rounds of judging, with a panel made up of local and international experts. Kang and Lone ensured the evaluation process was impartial, with teachers helping them filter initial submissions before handing them over to the judges. They did not judge the final projects themselves but trusted the panel of experts to do the evaluating. Behind the scenes, organizing SANES felt a bit like launching a startup, Lone said. 'We started cold emailing all organizations — universities, companies, organizations — we even got so far as having online pitches with some organizations, but that never really came into fruition. 'So then we kind of turned into our ISG school group when our teachers found out that we were doing such things, and our old superintendent brought us in for a meeting.' With support from the International Schools Group, which runs five schools in the Eastern Province, the students booked their school campus as the venue, secured snacks, and assembled an impressive judging lineup. First place went to students from British School Dhahran, while ISG Dammam students claimed second and third. Kang, originally from South Korea, has lived in the Kingdom since he was four. He is especially drawn to mathematical research and is passionate about expanding access to science education. He co-founded SANES 'to help students across KSA engage more freely in scientific research.' When they started high school, they wanted to join a science fair but found they were not eligible for the Saudi competitions nor the international ones. So they made their own. Hans Ott, director of teaching and learning at ISG, praised the initiative. 'What's exciting about today is that it was started by two of our students.' 'When they were 14, 15-year-old students, they said 'we want a STEM competition in Saudi Arabia.' 'And they created an inclusive environment where international students, Saudi students — anyone in the Kingdom — had a place to showcase their talent and love and passion for STEM.' Assistant principal Will McConnell, who helped mentor the students through the process, was especially proud. 'The journey has been both inspiring and instructive. SANES began as a student-led vision, and watching it come to life has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,' McConnell told Arab News. 'If students walk away feeling inspired, seen and empowered to pursue science and engineering further, then we've succeeded,' McConnell added. Superintendent Rhonda Norris echoed his words. 'Success from my perspective has already occurred. Our students had a vision based on their passion and interests and through the support of the leadership team and our community, they brought it to fruition. 'We are proud of these young men and what they have accomplished today,' she said. As for Kang and Lone? They are already thinking about what comes next. They hope to have the chance to go to college in the US, but in the meantime, with two more years of high school ahead, they are not slowing down — creating opportunities not only for themselves, but for their fellow students. They have already promised to 'continue after we graduate, too.'
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Lane Tech High School senior Divine Osuji steals spotlight at Chicago Public Schools science fair
For decades, some of the city's brightest students have shown their very best at the Chicago Public Schools science fair, but a Lane Tech senior stole the spotlight this year. Divine Favour Osuji, who just goes by Divine, doesn't just love science, he lives it, and he also lives to help people in need. The young people participating at the 75th annual Chicago Public Schools Science Fair and Exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry are exploring just about anything you can think of, from clean eating to sensor fusion, and more. But Divine's project is personal. "Growing up, I saw my grandparents suffer with a lot of different health complications," he said. "We were spending all this money on these health care devices, yet it was also putting a horrible economic dent in our pockets. I just wanted to ensure other families out there don't need to go through that same emotional suffering." So Divine decided to find a way people could monitor their health without breaking the bank. "My focus was on measuring three primary health vitals; which were heart rate, temperature, and blood oxygen levels," he explained. "The whole point was to try to get accurate health measuring with vitals, also keeping the cost as small as possible." This wasn't Divine's first rodeo. For other science fairs, he's created a prosthetic hand connected to a webcam. "It's sort of like shadowboxing, in a sense, where whatever movement you made in front of that camera, the prosthetic would mimic that movement," he said. He also developed a cost-effective way to remove garbage from a populated area back in his native Nigeria. All of his projects center on his basic belief that "anyone should be able to get adequate health care services, and there shouldn't be a price tag on that." Lane Tech chemistry teacher Lucy Young heads the Alpha-STEM and science departments, and says his determination is amazing. "Divine is one of those special kids," he said. "Divine has very creative energy to him. He sees a problem in the world, and he wants to try to fix it." Divine said his parents are "driving factors" for him, and his grandfather urged him to think big, even as a little boy. "We'd have a lot of intellectual debates, even though I was only 5 years old," he said. Intellectual curiosity is what brought Divine and other budding scientists together at the fair. It means the world to Carrie Kaestner, a teacher at Von Steuben Metro Science Center, who helps put it all together. "Their thoughtfulness, their professionalism, it just gives me hope for the future" she said. "These are our future voters, and they're going out, and they're going to be creating all this stuff and making the world a better place." That's definitely Divine's plan. CBS News Chicago asked what he thinks his "super power" is. "The ability, I guess, to acknowledge when I'm wrong because then it also gives me time to improve," he said. "I'm not incredibly arrogant. I still have a lot to learn." Divine plans to major in biomedical engineering in college. Next year he'll be a science fair alum, following in the footsteps of others who went on to become engineers, doctors an teachers, many of whom CPS says return to the science fair as judges. Earlier this year, Divine was named 2025 national STEM champion for developing that cost-effective prosthetic hand. Do you know someone a person or place that brings you joy? We want to share your story. Send us your "Eye on Chicago" ideas using the form below (or clicking here):
CBC
18-05-2025
- Science
- CBC
At a Gander mining conference, the industry's future was right next door
While mining executives and geologists gathered for the annual Central MinEX conference at the Gander Community Centre this week, the future of the industry showed off at the curling club next door. At least six schools from all over central Newfoundland took part in a science fair for junior high students. Calibre Mining, which owns the Valentine gold deposit near Millertown, sponsored the contest. "We believe youth are our future," said Calibre social compliance lead Courtney Rowsell. "So having them involved, having them learning about mining, finding out about careers in mining, bringing them into a space where they can learn from each other and learn about different aspects of the industry is very important to us." The students' projects covered issues such as erosion on mine sites, safer ways to handle asbestos and the mineral content of volcanoes. One group even coded their own version of the video game Minecraft, highlighting the minerals found in Newfoundland and Labrador. Wesley Turner is from Holy Cross School in Eastport. "Our project here, hydrospan, we were thinking what's an easy way for people from Newfoundland to [get to] the mainland," he explained. "Since there's an underwater highway in Europe, we thought to use that idea and make something. So it's a tunnel that goes from Newfoundland, under the ocean floor to Labrador." His group's display included a model tunnel drill Turner fashioned from an old blender motor. The team from Leo Burke Academy in Bishop's Falls created a large cardboard doll, called Molly the Miner, as part of their entry. "Our project is on the everyday minerals that you could be wearing right now," group member Olivia Simmonds said. "For example, on Molly, her shirt is polyester, she has jewelry on, she has a pencil, and she has steel-toed boots on." In the end, another group from Eastport won the day. "Our project is talking about e-waste recycling," said student Lily Heffern. "Basically, we're taking valuable minerals from used electronics, and we're repurposing them into the mining industry." But the students who worked on the projects didn't have to do it at all. They put in the time and effort because they're interested in working in the mining industry some day. For many of them, like Carly Thomas of Bishop's Falls, mining is the family business. "We did an interview on her dad, my pop and my brother, who all work in mines," she said. "Our families are really into mining, so we know a little bit about it."
