Rainbow students compete at the Canada-Wide Science Fair

Three young scientists from Rainbow Schools will compete at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Montreal, Québec from May 15 to 20, 2016. Their projects impressed the judges at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair, which earned them the honour of showcasing their findings among the best young scientists in the country.

Grade 7 student Eran Bursey of MacLeod Public School studied the decomposition rates of food with and without the presence of earthworms in his project on “The Effect of Worms on the Decomposition of Food Waste”. Eran used bins with soil and food scraps to monitor the rate of decomposition. He determined that the bins with worms decomposed quicker than those without, a technique that would help to eliminate waste faster in landfill sites. Eran Bursey garnered First Place in the Junior Division, Life Sciences category, and received the Clean Air Sudbury Award.

Nethra Wickramasinghe, a Grade 7 student at MacLeod Public School, studied how to build a filter that is able to purify laundry water. For her project, “Don’t Waste Waste Water,” Nethra designed and tested various custom designed filters to purify laundry wastewater. She experimented with slow sand filters and outlined their benefits, and discovered that the most efficient filter could save approximately 50,000 litres of water every year. Nethra Wickramasinghe placed First in the Junior Division of the Life Sciences category. She received the Environmental Award and the Laurentian University School of Engineering Award.

Mariam Alaeddine, a Grade 11 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, investigated the biofuel efficiency of ethanol as a renewable source of energy for motor vehicles with her project “Ethanol: Heating Things Up.” Mariam examined adding the organic compound acetone (C3H6O), to ethanol (C2H5OH), to determine its efficiency as a biofuel relative to its cost and cleanliness. Mariam took home First Place in the Senior Division, Physical Sciences category, as well as the Jack Ceming Chemistry Award.

“We are very proud of Eran, Nethra and Mariam for their outstanding achievement,” says Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “Our young scientists were among the best in the fair. Congratulations!”

Rainbow District School Board congratulates all Sudbury Regional Science Fair winners.

2016 SUDBURY REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS FROM RAINBOW SCHOOLS

SRSF REGULAR (DIVISIONAL) AWARDS

JUNIOR DIVISION – ENGINEERING

First
Don’t Waste Waste Water
Nethra Wickramasinghe
MacLeod Public School

Third
Braking Not Wasting
Elliot Beaudoin
R.L. Beattie Public School

SENIOR DIVISION – ENGINEERING

Honourable Mention
Scared of Heights: The Power of Resonance
Sebastian Zwarich
Amitesh Guraya
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

JUNIOR DIVISION – LIFE SCIENCES

First
The Effect of Worms on the Decomposition of Food Waste
Eran Bursey
MacLeod Public School

Second
The Dirt on Potting Soil Additives
Lauren Fearn
Algonquin Road Public School

JUNIOR DIVISION – PHYSICAL SCIENCES

First
Pitching for Strikes
Liam Socransky
Noah Groltoli
R.L. Beattie Public School

Second
Camp Stove Boil Off
Jonah Norrie
Churchill Public School

Third
The Future of Oil Spill Cleanup
Ayla Jones
Meredith Graham
C.R. Judd Public School

SENIOR DIVISION – PHYSICAL SCIENCES

First
Ethanol: Heating Things Up
Mariam Alaeddine
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

SPECIAL AWARDS

CAMBRIAN COLLEGE AWARD        
The best junior, intermediate and senior projects that best deals with a topic or process in the fields of mining, civil engineering technology, chemical engineering technology or renewable energy.

Pitching for Strikes
Liam Socransky
Noah Groltoli
R.L. Beattie Public School

C12H22O11 vs. The Floating Instrument
Eugene Kim
MacLeod Public School

Scared of Heights: The Power of Resonance
Sebastian Zwarich
Amitesh Guraya
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN MINING INNOVATION (CEMI) AWARD
An innovative project that helps illustrate/underscore the importance of mining research and technology development within society and/or the best project that deals with or contributes to the field of earth sciences, geology, and/or engineering.

Obsidian
Lachlan Kempson
Algonquin Road Public School

CHEMICAL INSTITUTE OF CANADA AWARD
The best project that deals with a chemical topic or process.

Choosing Your Greens
Sydney Wachnuk
Avery Shippam
Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
An innovative project that best deals with a topic related to children’s health.

Turn It Off
Zack Burton
Thomas Bourdon
R.L. Beattie Public School

CLEAN AIR SUDBURY AWARD
An outstanding project with a topic related to air quality or climate change.

The Effect of Worms on the Decomposition of Food Waste
Eran Bursey
MacLeod Public School

DENNIS ROBERTS MEMORIAL AWARD        
The project which studies individual or group human behaviour, animal behaviour, or thinking/feeling processes with emphasis on adherence to ethical principles in studies with human or animal subjects. 

Instafame or Instashame?
Austin Mashinter
Christopher De Luisa
MacLeod Public School

ENVIONMENTAL AWARD
The project should deal with some aspect of land reclamation or improving water quality or other environmental issues.

Don’t Waste Waste Water
Nethra Wickramasinghe
MacLeod Public School

FOUNDING MEMBERS’ AWARD
The project which exemplifies effort and perseverance. This award honours the contributions of such founding members as Don Davidson, Ed Higgins, and others.

The Dirt on Potting Soil Additives
Lauren Fearn
Algonquin Road Public School

JACK CEMING CHEMISTRY AWARD
An innovative project that demonstrates an outstanding chemistry related topic.

Ethanol: Heating Things Up
Mariam Alaeddine
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

SNOLAB AWARD
TWO outstanding projects related to sub-atomic physics, astrophysics or astronomy that demonstrates understanding and contributes to overall awareness of the topic.

Scared of Heights: The Power of Resonance
Sebastian Zwarich
Amitesh Guraya
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

LAURENTIAN ARCHITECTURE LAURENTIENNE (LAL) AWARD
The two projects that best demonstrate creativity and originality.

Camp Stove Boil Off
Jonah Norrie
Churchill Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY BIOLOGY AWARD     
The two best projects that deal with biology, a related topic or process or in some way contributes to the field of biology.

The Dirt on Potting Soil Additives
Lauren Fearn
Algonquin Road Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY BHARTI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AWARD
The two projects that best deal with engineering, a related topic or process, or in some way contributes to the field of engineering.

Don’t Waste Waste Water
Nethra Wickramasinghe
MacLeod Public School

Braking Not Wasting
Elliot Beaudoin
R.L. Beattie Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY/BIOCHEMISTRY AWARD
The project that best contributes to the field of chemistry or biochemistry.

Bubbly Bacteria
Amber Wiwchar
Charles C. McLean Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY EARTH SCIENCES AWARD
The project that best contributes to the field of earth sciences.

Wave Velocity
Camden Babin
Pinecrest Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY FORENSIC SCIENCES AWARD
The project that best contributes to the field of forensic science.

Are We Mindful of Bacteria?
Farrah McNeil
Sophia Daniels
R.L. Beattie Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY NEUROSCIENCE AWARD
The two projects that best deal with neuroscience, a related topic or process, or in some way contributes to the field of neuroscience.

Pain in the Brain
Josh Hayes
Max Mahaffy
R.L. Beattie Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT AWARD
The two projects that best contribute to the fields of environmental science, environmental studies and/or archaeology.

The Future of Oil Spill Cleanup
Ayla Jones
Meredith Graham
C.R. Judd Public School

MILMAN INDUSTRIES INC. AWARD
The project that best demonstrates the importance or need for environmental consciousness as it relates to mining or other fields. The project should demonstrate a way to reduce or eliminate impact throughout the activity.

Braking Not Wasting
Elliot Beaudoin
R.L. Beattie Public School

MINING INNOVATION, REHABILITATION AND APPLIED RESEARCH CORPORATION (MIRARCO) MINING AWARD
Best project related to risk assessment or mitigation in mining. 

The Future of Oil Spill Cleanup
Ayla Jones
Meredith Graham
C.R. Judd Public School

MODERN MINING AND TECHNOLOGY SUDBURY AWARD
The best overall project that deals with some aspect of mining.

Braking Not Wasting
Elliot Beaudoin
R.L. Beattie Public School

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION ENERGY AWARD
The project that best deals with power production, energy and/or energy efficiency.

Heat Keepers
Braden Trobacher-Slatter
Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION ENGINEERING AWARD
The two projects that best contribute to the fields of chemical, electrical, mechanical, nuclear, or civil engineering.

Scared of Heights: The Power of Resonance
Sebastian Zwarich
Amitesh Guraya
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
The project that best addresses issues of environmental responsibility and/or sustainable development.

The Future of Oil Spill Cleanup
Ayla Jones
Meredith Graham
C.R. Judd Public School

CANADA-WIDE SCIENCE FAIR PARTICIPANT
Best projects in the fair.

The Effect of Worms on the Decomposition of Food Waste
Eran Bursey
MacLeod Public School

Don’t Waste Waste Water
Nethra Wickramasinghe
MacLeod Public School

Ethanol: Heating Things Up
Mariam Alaeddine
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.