North Bay Regional Science Fair - Expo Sciences Régionale de

www.nbrsf.com November 2013
North Bay Regional Science Fair - Expo Sciences Régionale de North Bay
P.O. Box 24007, 66 Josephine St., North Bay, Ontario P1B 0C7
Experiencing CWSF
My Amazing Time at
the
Canada-Wide
Science Fair!
By Josh MacDonald
The Canada-Wide Science Fair was
probably one of my greatest
experiences to date! It was an
experience that presented the
opportunity to explore so many
multiple scientific fields, meet
industry leaders and many fellow
young scientists sharing our same
passion for excellence and discovery
from all across Canada.
By Lucas Oyeniran
Even after all the great
experiences that I have had this
year, I can truly say my week at
the Canada-Wide Science Fair was
the highlight of my year! From the
minute I stepped unto the
Lethbridge University the science
fair volunteers and our chaperones
made me feel welcome and at
home.
It was such a great experience that
Team North Bay 2013:
I was honored to share with my
Aidan Kehoe, Lucas Oyeniran, Joshua MacDonald,
project partner Lucas, where we
were able to see what other great
Madeleine Yeomans, and Aysha Draves
From helping us prepare for CWSF
projects the youth of Canada had
long before it began, to giving us
come up with. It was great to be able to present our ideas to the
helpful tips on a very nerve racking judging day, the chaperones
public and build great interpersonal skills!
made me feel much more assured about this experience. Another
Some of the best memories was being able to discover Alberta,
even though I had been in Alberta before. I had a great
experience exploring a birds of prey rehabilitation sanctuary and
seeing eagles and other birds up close! Also being able to explore
Waterton Park was awesome!
All together, it truly was one for the books, and what made it an
even better experience was that we were able to take home a
gold medal from the national science fair and other awards, it was
the most fulfilling experience I have ever had. All of our hard
work had finally paid off and we were recognized by heads of the
scientific community!
I would just like to thank the North Bay Regional Science Fair for
choosing us to be a part of such a great experience and our
delegates for taking us on this adventure. We plan to be back
next year for round two!
great part of the CWSF were the activities that we partook in.
To me, it felt as if the CWSF committee put a lot of emphasis
on making this year’s science fair as fun as possible! And it was
clearly shown in the amazing dance, movie night, and game nights
we had! Finally, the greatest part of CWSF were the people that
I experienced it with. Without the other CWSF participants
from North Bay and around the country I am sure my time there
would not have been as
enjoyable for me!
In This Issue
More student
experiences on
following pages...
New Sponsors in 2013!
NBRSF would like to thank our new
sponsors for their support of the 2013
regional fair. They are: Tanya & Scott
Schulman, Solar DC, CIBC, Induspec,
Arclin, Wilde Ridge Farm, Knight Piesold,
Drs. Pearce, Barry & Morland, MJ & David
Norman, Canadian Tire, Future Shop,
Walmart, and Ontario Northland. Your
support is very much appreciated!
Regional Fair Logistics …
Word From Our Chair…..
Student Mentorship …….
Project Information …...
Projet information ……...
A Word to Teachers ….
The Workbook …………….
Who Can Enter the Fair
page 2
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page 3
page 4
page 5
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page 6
Want to Help? Support your regional students! Drs. Pearce, Barry
& Morland
Consider being a sponsor for our
regional fair. We provide up to five
students with the amazing opportunity
to attend the Canada-Wide Science
Fair. Need more information? Go to
the fundraising link at www.nbrsf.com
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52nd Annual North Bay Regional Science Fair
Thanks to Our Sponsors
Arclin Canadian Tire CIBC Creative Learning Drs. Pearce, Barry & Morland Drs. Tanya & Scott Schulman Future Shop Greater Nipissing Stewardship Cl. Gulliver’s Hydro One Induspec IODE ‐ Dr. H. A. Bruce Chapter Jaff’s Pharmacy Judith Koziol Knight Piesold Kumon Math and Reading Centre Michaud Vachon Optical Mitch Belanger MJ & David Norman Nipissing Naturalists Club Northern Credit Union Ontario Northland Ontario Power Generation Professional Engineers of Ont. Promo Sports Depot RBC Rotary Club Nipissing Rotary Club North Bay Royal Bank of Canada Royal Canadian Legion Branch 23 Scotiabank Solar DC Staples TD Friends Foundation The Party Store and More TransCanada Pipelines Twigg’s Walmart Wilde Ridge Farm Wills Engineering Wingate Lottery Youth Science Canada Youth Science Ontario Thanks For Your Service
E Z Rock Radio & The Fox Radio Nipissing University Precious Peacock Date:
April 2, 2014
Time:
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m.)
Place:
Nipissing University
100 College Drive, North Bay, ON
52e foire scientifique annuelle de la région de North Bay
Date :
le 2 avril 2014
Heures :
De 8 h à 20 h (cérémonie de remise des prix à 19 h)
Endroit :
Université Nipissing
100, College Drive, North Bay (Ontario)
A Word from the Chair
Welcome students and teachers! As you begin preparations and projects for your
individual school Fair, the North Bay Regional Science Fair Committee is hard at
work organizing the 52nd Annual Fair. Each year we are very pleased and often
surprised by the ingenuity that goes into many of the projects we see. We are
constantly making improvements to the Fair to benefit students.
Please distribute this newsletter to all who may be interested in participating in this
year’s Fair. You can also assist us by promoting the science fair in your school
through teacher/student involvement and by holding your own fair prior to the
Regional Fair. The NBRSF committee extends our appreciation and thanks to the
many teachers, students, parents, volunteers and community organizations who have
offered their generous support to previous Fairs, and to the many sponsors who,
through financial contributions, make the NBRSF possible.
The most up-to-date information is always available on our website at
www.nbrsf.com. Should you have any questions or require additional information,
please contact me, Umar Waqas at 705 498-3317.
Student Mentorship Mentorship is a relationship in which the older, more experienced
person contributes directly to the growth and development of the
younger person. Students interested in receiving assistance from a
mentor in any scientific discipline will need to complete the
mentorship form online on the NBRSF website.
One group interested in mentoring is the Professional Engineers
of Ontario (PEO), North Bay chapter. They have been involved in
organizing the regional science fair for more than 40 years. Engineers
from the local chapter PEO are pleased to offer their assistance in engineering
disciplines, such as civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical and computer engineering,
to students who require it for their science fair project. contact our Judging Chair,
Andrew Weeks at 705 474-3450 ext4208
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Categories
This year’s projects will be classified
into one of the following categories:
The Project Summary
Creating A Good Project
Judges allocate a portion of the
marks for the summary. This is a 500
word report, typed double space on
three pages, with charts and graphs
added to illustrate relationships. The
parts of the report are:
Purpose - what the student is trying
to discover.
Hypothesis - what the student
predicts the result will be.
Procedure - how the investigation was
carried out.
Results - discoveries that include
tables and diagrams where needed.
Conclusions - proof or disproof of the
hypothesis. Show what the results
mean.
There are five general levels of science
fair projects. Levels 1 and 2 are for
younger students, where the emphasis is
on exercising the imagination, not
research and observation. By the time a
student is in grade 7, a level 3, or Junior
Level project is recommended.
Biotechnology:
Crop development, animal science and
microbials.
Engineering,Computer & Math Science:
Involves any branch of engineering or
computer
technology/hardware,
JUNIOR PROJECT:
software writing, data-processing
This is the minimum acceptable level for
techniques, etc.
grades 7 and up. At this level there are
Life Sciences:
two major types of science projects:
Zoology, botany, or pure and applied
1) Building a model based on scientific
medicine.
principles with improved features
Physical Sciences:
over other designs.
Physics, chemistry or mathematics.
2) Demonstrating a scientific principle,
Earth and Environmental Sciences:
making improvements on standard
Planetary processes or the relationships
experiments and developing a new
of organisms to those processes.
application of an established
Each category is divided into
Purp
s
t
ose
l
principle.
u
the following divisions:
Project Title
Res
Junior:
Grades 7 & 8
INTERMEDIATE PROJECT:
Intermediate: Grades 9 & 10
Students answer a question by
Senior:
Grades 11 to 12
designing experiments that test
The exhibits will be judged by a
one or two variable factors. For
panel of local scientists,
Procedure
example, the student could study
technologists, engineers,
the rate of corrosion of metals
Conclu1. Research
Hypoeducators, doctors, nurses and
under different temperatures and
sion
2. Experiment
thesis
others with a scientific
humidity levels.
background, with marks awarded
based on the following:
SENIOR PROJECT:
Report Workbook
Ç,Creative ability and originality
At this level, experiments seek to
Ç Scientific thought
control all possible variables. The
ÇScientific skill of the student
results cannot be attributed to
Ç Dramatic value
error or chance and can be
Project dimensions are 3.5 m high by 1.2 m wide
Ç Written report
documented consistently using the
by 0.8 m deep.
Ç Oral and visual presentation
same experiments. The work is
Workbook questions??? See page 5. usually open-ended and leads to more
questions and research possibilities.
What’s in a Science Project?
There is a standard procedure called the Scientific Method
with which to do a research project, though the order can
change:
data about the scientific processes involved. The highest level
of science fair project is a research project where the
student designs and carries out experiments.
PURPOSE - every project should be designed to answer a
question and choosing that question is likely the hardest part
of the whole process.
RESULTS - from the observation or experiments, a student is
able to record the results in a form that others can easily
understand, using graphs, charts and tables.
HYPOTHESIS - to answer the initial question, the student
CONCLUSIONS - the results should tell the student whether
makes his or her best guess as to what the answer might be.
PROCEDURE - design a process to prove or disprove the
hypothesis. This can be done in two ways: through
observation or research in order to collect information or
his hypothesis is right or wrong, and why. A good conclusion is
one that will encourage another researcher to follow the same
experimental procedures. Some new original ideas may lead to
future research work and next year’s SF project.
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Catégories
Les projets seront assignés à une des
catégories suivantes :
Le résumé du projet
La création d’un bon projet
Une portion des points sera allouée
par les juges au résumé du projet. Il
s’agit d’un rapport écrit de 500 mots,
à double-ligne sur trois pages, avec
des graphiques pour illustrer le
rapport entre les concepts.
Les
composantes de ce rapport sont :
L’objet : ce que l’élève essaie de
découvrir.
L’hypothèse : la prédiction du résultat.
La méthode : une description du
procédé de l’enquête.
Les résultats : une présentation des
données obtenues, de tableau et de
graphiques, au besoin.
La conclusion : est-ce que l’hypothèse
est correcte, partiellement correcte, ou
pas du tout ? Que disent les résultats ?
Il y a cinq niveaux en général pour les
projets. Les niveaux 1 et 2 sont conçus
pour les élèves en 6e année ou moins, où
l’emphase est sur l’imagination, et
moindre
sur
la
recherche
et
l’observation. Pour un élève en 7e année,
le niveau 3,
un projet junior, est
recommandé.
Biotechnologie
Développement végétatif, science animal
et microbiologie.
Informatique
Technologie informatique, matériel,
logiciel, techniques de traitement des
données, etc.
Un projet junior
Science de l’ingénieur
Le « projet junior » est le niveau
Comprends tous les domaines de
minimum pour les élèves de 7e année. Ici,
l’ingénierie.
il y deux types principales de projets de
Sciences de la vie
sciences :
Zoologie, botanie, ou la medicine pure ou
1)
La construction d’un modèle basé
appliquée.
sur
des
principes scientifiques, mais avec
Sciences physiques
des améliorations par rapport à d’autres
Physiques, chimie ou mathématiques
modèles semblables
Sciences de la Terre et de
l’environnement
2)
La démonstration d’un
Processus planétaires ou la relation
principe scientifique, avec des
entre les organismes et ces
L’obj
améliorations aux expériences, et
Le s
et
Le titre
tats
processus.
l
le développement d’une nouvelle
u
s
ré
du projet
Chaque catégorie est répartie
application basée sur le principe
parmi les sections suivantes :
scientifique.
La méthode
Junior :
7e et 8e années
Un projet intermédiaire
Intermédiaire :
9e et 10e années
1. Recherche
Les élèves répondent à une
La conSénior :
11e et 12e années
L’hypoquestion en développant une
2. Expérience
clusion
Les montages seront jugés par un
thése
expérience qui vérifie une ou
panel de scientifiques locaux, des
deux variables. Par exemple, un
technologues, des ingénieurs et
Cashier
Le
projet peut avoir comme sujet
ingénieures, des éducateurs et
rapport de notes
l’étude du taux de corrosion de
éducatrices, des docteurs, des
métaux par rapport à différentes
infirmiers et infirmières et autres
températures et à l’humidité.
gens avec un acquis scientifique. Les
points seront alloués par rapport à :
Un projet senior
Les dimensions du montage sont d’une hauteur
ÇLa créativité et l’originalité
L’élève tente de contrôler toutes
de 3,5 m, d’une largeur de 1,2 m et d’ure
ÇLa pensée scientifique
les variables possibles.
Les
profondeur de 0,8 m.
ÇL’aptitude scientifique de l’élève
résultats ne peuvent pas être
ÇL’effet dramatique
Questions par rapport au cahier de notes ? attribués à l’erreur ou à la chance, et
Voir page 5 !
ÇLe rapport écrit
peuvent être documentés de façon
ÇLa qualité de la présentation
constante et répétant la même
CWSF Funding
orale et visuelle
expérience.
Le projet en général est
Up to five students may be selected
extensible et peux mener à d’autres
to represent the North Bay Region at
questions et d’autre recherche.
Individual school boards, schools and
the Canada-Wide Science Fair in
students should be prepared to share
Windsor, Ontario in May 2014.
WANTED !!!
in the expense of sending regional
Science
teacher’s
- to serve on the
It is the goal of the NBRSF Committee
winners to the CWSF.
NBRSF committee as committee / school
to fully fund the Best of Fair project
In Grade 1 to 6? – Consider a
liaisons. Who better to advise us of
and offer 50% funding for each other
“Science on the Wall” Display
school and student needs, trends and
project selected to represent North
Check out www.nbrsf.com / Rules and
activities! Contact Umar Waqas at
Bay at the CWSF. It is possible that
Regs/Wall Display
(705) 498-3317
this goal may not be achieved.
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CWSF—Tons of Fun!
By Madeleine Yeomans
Canada-Wide Science fair this year was tons of
fun. After having attended last year, I worked
very hard to try and attend this year. I had so
much fun and was really hoping to do it again. I
somehow pulled it off.
Lethbridge is the perfect size town to host an
event like this. It is not too big and not too
small. We stayed on the campus at U of L which
overlooks the canyon that passes through the
middle of town.
Meeting people from all over Canada is
something you don’t get to do every day. All
the new people and faces can be overwhelming
but everyone has something in common which
makes it very easy to start a conversation and
get to know them. The diversity of projects is
also amazing. Every field of science is under
one roof.
A big thank you goes out to North Bay Science
Fair committee whose members work very hard
every year to put on the science fair. I am also
very grateful to our great delegates who put
up with us for a week. To all the sponsors who
There was plenty to see and do. We were kept
support the North Bay regional Science Fair,
busy throughout the week. Tours day was one of Madeleine with her project,
Thank you.
the highlights of the week where we got to tour
“Micro-Matter, Macroaround southern Alberta. We went to a bird
Finally, a very special thanks to Jeremy St.
Mystery.”
sanctuary, Waterton National Park and Head
Onge at Canadore College for letting me use
Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. It was a pain when our bus broke
his lab for my experiment, for supervising me while I was
down but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the day.
doing my experiment and for giving me tips and ideas as to
how to conduct my experiment. I am very honored to have
We also got to explore downtown Lethbridge one evening. We
competed against some of Canada’s top young scientists and I
went to a fabulous sushi restaurant for dinner. It was a nice
hope I will have the opportunity again. Thank you to all who
break from the cafeteria food.
helped along the way.
A Word to Teachers
While it requires extra work, assisting students with science
projects can be enjoyable and rewarding. The key to success
is early preparation.
The Workbook
Check out resource materials available from the Youth
Science Canada/Sciences jeunesse Canada and attend
workshops and meetings with your Regional Science Fair
Committee or Science Teacher Group. You can direct your
students to resourceful websites, such as the National
Research Council Canada’s new Science & Tech site for
teachers and students at www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/education.
The display must include a workbook which
records detailed information collected,
experiments conducted, resources and
materials, and daily or weekly observations. This
is a diary of time spent on your project, which
informs judges that proper procedures were
followed. Also, information needed for display
and project summary are readily available.
With proper orientation and motivation, you can direct your
students into a project that will generate excitement,
interest and enthusiasm for science.
Links You HAVE To Check Out!
Online Resources for Students and Teachers
SMARTS is an online science community designed to connect
students ages 13 to 18 with an interest in science,
technology, engineering and math.
SMARTS is a place to connect, share ideas and information
about science and technology, get creative, and have fun! It’s
also a place to organize and track science projects - for
students, teachers, and parents.
Visit smarts.youthscience.ca to get started.
smarterscience.ca—Smarter Science—An open-source
framework for teaching and learning K-12 science and
developing the skills of inquiry, creativity and innovation.
if.youthscience.ca—Invent the Future— Youth Science
Canada's national challenge to students to make their
world a better place.
sf.youthscience.ca—Science Fairs—Tools, resources,
advice on projects.
www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics—Minute Physics—
Physics concepts described in everyday language using easy
to follow diagrams and sketches.
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My Science Fair Experience
By: Aysha Draves
As a returning grade 12 student at Widdifield
Secondary School, this past year I was looking
for ways to go above and beyond, and get out
into the world of science. In fact, it wasn't
really my decision to participate in Science
Fair this year, I had been recruited, in a
sense, by my teacher and mentor. However,
I'm extremely glad I participated this year. It
was my first time doing Science Fair and I was
going in with no expectations whatsoever. At
the regional science fair I came first and was
told I was moving on to the Canada-Wide
Science Fair. I don't think I've ever been as
nervous as I was when I was told that!
was beautiful. We had the opportunity to
do a bit of touring around Alberta and it
was fantastic. It felt like you could see for
miles no matter where you were.
Judging day was very intense and nerveraking. Every student looked their best and
was ready to show the world what they had
accomplished. The scientific minds I was
able to pick at and the brilliant people I
was able to befriend was an experience I
will never forget.
The overall experience I participated in
during the duration of the Canada Wide
Science Fair is something I will carry with
me in all my future endeavors. I met some
This year, the Canada-Wide Science Fair was
life-long friends and was able to get a feel
in Lethbridge, Alberta. I had never been to
Aysha with her project, “The
for a different part of Canada. I'm
Alberta and was excited for this new
Hairy Truth About Your Beauty
positive I will be continuing on with my
experience. I was very fortunate to have
Products!”
exploration into the world of science,
traveled with the best possible group of
Science Fair simply gave me the foundation I needed to be
students and mentors, and I was able to meet even more
the best I can be.
wonderful people along the way. I remember thinking everything
Who Can Enter the Fair?
All students in grades 7 through 12 (under 21 years of age) in
the North Bay region are eligible to enter the Fair. The North
Bay region extends from Mattawa to Verner and from Parry
Sound to Englehart, and includes Near North District School
Board Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board,
District School Board #5; and District School Board #60B.
Registration is online only, at www.nbrsf.com. Students may
enter either individually or in groups of two (2). Applications
must be received by the Regional Fair Director of Registration
by March 28, 2014. No late entries will be accepted. Please
plan accordingly if this date conflicts with March break.)
Schools are encouraged to hold their own Science Fair several
weeks before the Regional Fair to enable those advancing to
the Regional Fair ample time to register. We endeavour to
provide services in both official languages and will
accommodate French speaking students at the Fair with French
speaking judges when available. Students are encouraged to
make their presentation in either official language.
Why you should study science
Because you can methodologically carry out investigations,
critically analyze the outcomes, and conclude the answers to
ALL questions starting with 'WHY'.
An overview of the Lethbridge project display area.
In Grades 1 to 6?
Get Ready for “Science on the Wall!”
Science on the Wall is simply a poster display – a poster
that has something to do with science. They can vary from
a simple collage of the four food groups, to an intermediate
volcano display in an investigation of endangered species –
complete with a world map, and reference cards about
species tied to each location. The limits are endless – and
student creativity is encouraged.
Check out www.nbrsf.com/Rules and Regs/Wall Display.
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Another Science Fair
Season
By Aidan Kehoe
Another great science fair season has
come and gone. This year, I had the
privilege of once again attending the
Canada-Wide Science Fair and it was
another
great,
albeit
humbling,
experience. This fair was held in the
remarkable Lethbridge, Alberta.
First Nations heritage
site and a small town
amongst the mountains
that seemed to be home
to more domestic sheep
than people.
This great science fair
cannot be attributed
solely to the University
of Lethbridge, though.
For example, the trip
I’ve never spent much time in the
would have been possible
prairies, so I was quite awestruck when I
had it not been for the
was first among them on our two and a
support
of
various
half hour bus ride from the Calgary
benefactors
around
airport to the University of Lethbridge.
Aidan places one of his project panels.
North Bay. Also, our
Even though we spent seven days on the
delegates guided and supported us and made sure we had the
Lethbridge University campus, we were so busy with science
best experience we could have.
fair judging, public tours, and awards ceremonies that we only
were granted one day to tour around the Alberta area itself.
Finally, the other finalists selected from North Bay were a
group of great people who really moulded my science fair
On our tour, we went to the Bird of Prey sanctuary where we
experience. This was another great trip for me, and I hope I
took pictures with a blind golden eagle. We also went to an old
have the privilege to attend CWSF next year as well.
Team North Bay 2013 at the Waterton Park lookout:
Madeleine Yeomans, Joshua MacDonald, Aidan Kehoe,
Aysha Draves, and Lucas Oyeniran.
Pour plus d’information :
Les élèves qui souhaitent
participer à la foire régionale
doivent d’abord s’adresser à
leur enseignant/enseignante de
sciences ou au directeur/à la
directrice de leur école. Pour
obtenir de plus amples
renseignements, veuillez
communiquer avec Daniel Orr au
705- 474-5500, poste 249.
For More Information:
Students wishing to enter a
project in the Regional Fair
should first
speak with
their
school
science
teacher or principal. For
more information please
contact
Umar Waqas,
Chair, at (705) 498-3317.
Josh brought his mascot...
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CWSF Awards Ceremony results:
Lucas & Joshua—Senior Environmental Challenge & Senior Gold
Medal
Madeleine—Intermediate Bronze Medal
Aysha & Aidan—Exceptional finalists at CWSF
Madeleine, Aidan, Josh, Aysha and Lucas.
Lucas and Josh after the
Awards Ceremony - making
sure the medals are real!
Delegate, Tanya Lafond,
tries out the climbing wall.