Colin Roos earns Bronze Medal at Canada-Wide Science Fair

Colin Roos, a Grade 9 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, captured a Bronze Medal in the Environmental Innovation category at the Canada-Wide Science Fair held in Peterborough from May 15 to 23, 2010. He won an Honourable Mention in the Junior Environmental Innovation Science category at the 2009 Canada-Wide Science Fair.

“We congratulate Colin Roos for his impressive showing at the national level,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “He continues to garner accolades for his innovative research. We are certainly very proud of him for his outstanding achievement.” 

Colin’s project, The Chlorofilter Phase 3, used the science of photosynthesis to make a filter that removes carbon dioxide from fossil fuel emissions.  The goal was to reduce the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is said to be a large contributor to global warming. In 2008, phase 1 of the project, he tested how effective land plants were at exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen. In 2009, phase 2 of the project, he tested algae in the same manner.

The third phase of the project was developed based on previous results.  A unique experimental design was used to investigate the effects of engine exhaust on algae life cycles. Colin Roos also investigated carbon dioxide concentrations produced by engines and how they can be reduced using a filter composed of water and algae.  The results of this year’s research will be used to refine the design of the prototype filter.

At the 2010 Sudbury Regional Science Fair, Colin Roos placed First in Intermediate Engineering and won the following awards: Air Quality/Climate Change Award (for outstanding project dealing with air quality or climate change), Bill Roman Award (for best in fair as judged by the exhibitors), Via Rail Canada’s EnviroExpo Special Award (for a project that takes on a pressing environmental issue and incorporates an artistic discipline), Ontario Ministry of the Environment Environmental Innovator Award (for demonstrating a creative approach to an environmental problem that could lead to cleaner air, land, or water), Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Stepping Stone Award (for best in the fair), and a Laurentian University Scholarship Award (for best intermediate project in the fair).

-30-

Media Contact:
Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.