Students participate in Canada-Wide Science Fair in Manitoba May 9 to 17

A number of students from Rainbow Schools will participate in the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Winnipeg, Manitoba from May 9th to 17th, 2009.  They will be among the top young scientists in Grades 7 to 12 chosen from approximately 25,000 competitors at 100 regional science and technology fairs from across the country.

“We congratulate all winners of the Sudbury Regional Science Fair and the North Channel Science Fair,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Judy Hunda. “We wish our Canada-Wide Science Fair participants all the best at the national level.”

Joshua Semeniuk and Nick Houle from A.B. Ellis Public School will showcase their project entitled Solar vs Wind. They captured second overall at the North Channel Science Fair at the Villa Française des Jeunes in Elliot Lake on April 4th, 2009. They also received a Physical Science Award and the Hydro One Ambassador Award.

Joshua Semeniuk and Nick Houle tested solar power and wind power to determine which power source would generate the greatest output. They created a wind turbine and solar panel to conduct their testing.

Spencer Young and Connor Sanders of MacLeod Public School will feature their project called "Material Matters" which captured first place in the Junior Division Physical Sciences Category at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair held at Laurentian University April 4th and 5th. They also won the Environmental Award, the Innovation Award and the NSERC Award.

 

In their project, Spencer Young and Connor Sanders attempted to find a more eco-friendly material with the same or greater qualities as a normal plastic bag. They created a completely natural, homemade biodegradable plastic, which was tested against the top plastic bags.

Three students from R.L. Beattie Public School were also selected to attend the Canada-Wide Science Fair. This is the fifth consecutive year, with a total of eight projects, that students from R.L. Beattie Public School have been selected to represent the Sudbury area at the national level.

Colin Roos, who captured first place in the Junior Division Engineering Category, will showcase his project entitled “The Chlorofilter”. “The Chlorofilter uses plant photosynthesis to put in a car so that oxygen, rather than carbon dioxide, is emitted. This would reverse the effect of global warming on earth,” he explains.  He adds: “This idea was divided into four phases. Last year, phase one was to test how effective land plants were at exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen. This year’s project is phase two, testing algae in the same manner.” Colin Roos also won the Bill Roman Award, Via Rail Canada’s EnviroExpo Special Award and the LU Engineering Award.

Tyler Landry, who won second place in the Junior Division Engineering Category, developed a project called “E-Z Glide Sliding Rail Anchor”. “When a railway bridge needs to be repaired or inspected, workers use Sliding Rail Anchors to secure themselves to the bridge,” explains Tyler Landry. “Not only are these anchors supposed to secure workers, they should also slide so the workers can work along the bridge. The current anchors do not slide!” He proposed the E-Z Glide Sliding Rail Anchor as the solution.  “It incorporates roller bearings, allowing it to glide easily and safely on the track,” he says. Tyler Landry also won the Sudbury Mining Week Award.

 

North Channel Science Fair winners from Rainbow Schools

Second Overall

Physical Science Award

2009 Hydro One Ambassador Award

Project: Solar vs Wind

Students: Joshua Semeniuk and Nick Houle

School: A.B. Ellis Public School

   

Third Overall

Junior Life Science Award

Ontario Board of Medical Laboratories Award

Project: C.S.I. Espanola

Student: Shelby Clairmont and Jocelyn Powers

School: A.B. Ellis Public School

Sudbury Regional Science Fair winners from Rainbow Schools

Junior Division – Engineering

First Place

Project: The Chlorofilter

Student: Colin Roos

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Second Place

Project: E-Z Glide Sliding Rail Anchor

Student: Tyler Landry

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Third Place

Project: Eco Paper

Student: Elspeth Cudmore

School: MacLeod Public School

Junior Division – Life Sciences

Second Place

Project: Common Courtesies

Students: Danielle Provencher and Soheila Homayed

School: Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

 

Third Place

Project: The Science of Lying

Student: Bronwyn Novak

School: MacLeod Public School

Junior Division – Physical Sciences

First Place

Project: Oscar’s Bagology

Students: Madeleine Sauve and Sarah Romani

School: Alexander Public School

Project: Material Matters

Students: Connor Sanders and Spencer Young

School: MacLeod Public School

Fourth Place

Project: Which Brand of Battery is Best to Buy?

Student: Peter Elford

School: MacLeod Public School

2009 Special Award Winners

Air Quality/Climate Change Award

Project: Human Energy

Students: Jared Manchuk and Rudy Giusti

School: Algonquin Road Public School

Bill Roman Award

Project: The Chlorofilter

Student: Colin Roos

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Biotechnology Award

Project: Spice Up Your Life

Students: Alex Tonelli and Chelsea Noble-Poland

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Chemical Institute of Canada Award

Project: Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Student: Heather McLean

School: Algonquin Road Public School

Dennis Roberts Memorial Award

Project: Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow

Students: Kenny Bonder and Alex Mulloy

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Environmental Award

Project: Material Matters

Students: Connor Sanders and Spencer Young

School: MacLeod Public School

Founding Members’ Award

Project: Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow

Students: Kenny Bonder and Alex Mulloy

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Jack Ceming Chemistry Award

Project: Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Student: Heather McLean

School: Algonquin Road Public School

Laurentian University Engineering Science Award

Project: Eco Paper

Student: Elspeth Cudmore

School: MacLeod Public School

Laurentian University Physical Science Award

Project: The Science of Lying

Student: Bronwyn Novak

School: MacLeod Public School

Ontario Power Generation Award

Project: Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Student: Heather McLean

School: Algonquin Road Public School

Sudbury Mining Week Award

Project: E-Z Glide Sliding Rail Anchor

Student: Tyler Landry

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

VIA Rail Canada’s EnviroExpo Special Award

Project: The Chlorofilter

Student: Colin Roos

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Energy Ambassador Award

Project: Human Energy

Students: Jared Manchuk and Rudy Giusti

School: Algonquin Road Public School

Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories Award

Project: Spice Up Your Life

Students: Alex Tonelli and Chelsea Noble-Poland

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Ontario Ministry of the Environment Environmental Innovator Award

Project: Eco Paper

Student: Elspeth Cudmore

School: MacLeod Public School

University of Ontario Institute of Technology Innovation Award

Project: Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow

Students: Kenny Bonder and Alex Mulloy

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Project: Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Student: Heather McLean

School: Algonquin Road Public School

LifeLabs Medical Laboratories

Project: The Truth Behind The Heart

Students: Jackson Picard and Emily Luong

School: Chelmsford Valley District Composite School

LU Biology Award

Project: Common Courtesies

Students: Danielle Provencher and Soheila Homayed

School: Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

Project: The Science of Lying

Student: Bronwyn Novak

School: MacLeod Public School

LU Chemistry Award

Project: Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Student: Heather McLean

School: Algonquin Road Public School

LU Engineering Award

Project: The Chlorofilter

Student: Colin Roos

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

LU Forensic Science Award

Project: The Science of Lying

Student: Bronwyn Novak

School: MacLeod Public School

LU Geology Award

Project: Phun With Photons

Student: Rachel Wood

School: R. L. Beattie Public School

Innovation Award

Project: Material Matters

Students: Connor Sanders and Spencer Young

School: MacLeod Public School

LU Physics Award

Project: Which Brand of Battery is Best to Buy?

Student: Peter Elford

School: MacLeod Public School

NSERC Award

Project: Material Matters

Students: Connor Sanders and Spencer Young

School: MacLeod Public School

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.