Students honoured for green technology at Canada-Wide Science Fair

Connor Sanders, left, and Spencer Young of Macleod Public School won a silver medal in the Junior Physical and Mathematical Sciences category at the Canada-Wide Science Fair for their project entitled “Material Matters”. They created a completely natural, homemade biodegradable plastic, which was tested against the top plastic bags.

Two projects focusing on green technology invented by students from Rainbow Schools, including a biodegradable plastic and a filtering process for eliminating carbon dioxide from car emissions, captured top honours at this year’s Canada-Wide Science Fair. The national fair was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba from May 9th to 17th, 2009.

“We congratulate all Canada-Wide Science Fair award winners and participants from Rainbow Schools,” says Rainbow District School Board Chair Judy Hunda. “We are proud of you for your outstanding achievement on a national level.” The students from Rainbow Schools were 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.

Spencer Young and Connor Sanders of Macleod Public School won a silver medal in the Junior Physical and Mathematical Sciences category for their project entitled “Material Matters”. They received a $700 cash prize. They also each won a $1,500 entrance scholarship to the University of Western Ontario.

"Material Matters" captured first place in the Junior Division Physical Sciences Category at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair held at Laurentian University April 4th and 5th. Spencer Young and Connor Sanders also won the Environmental Award, the Innovation Award and the NSERC Award at the local fair.

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.

Also at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, Colin Roos of R.L. Beattie Public School earned an Honourable Mention in the Junior Environmental Innovation Science category for his project entitled “The Chlorofilter”.  He received a $100 cash prize.

Colin Roos captured first place in the Junior Division Engineering Category at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair. He also won the Bill Roman Award, Via Rail Canada’s EnviroExpo Special Award and the LU Engineering Award at the local fair.

“The Chlorofilter” uses plant photosynthesis to put in a car so that oxygen, rather than carbon dioxide, is emitted to reverse the effect of global warming on earth. This science fair project included four phases. Last year, in phase one, Colin Roos tested how effective land plants were at exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen. With this year’s project, phase two, he tested algae in the same manner.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

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