Students participate in Canada-Wide Science Fair in Charlottetown May 12-19

Four students from Rainbow Schools will participate in the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island from May 12 to 19, 2012.  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,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “We wish our Canada-Wide Science Fair participants all the best at the national level.”

The following Rainbow students will showcase their projects at the 2012 Canada-Wide Science Fair – Helen Czapor, Grade 8, R. L. Beattie Public School; Megan Gran, Grade 7, Algonquin Road Public School; John Laamanen, Grade 7, Algonquin Road Public School; and Lauren Wood, Grade 8, R. L. Beattie Public School.

2012 CANADA-WIDE SCIENCE FAIR PARTICIPANTS



Helen Czapor

Grade 8

R. L. Beattie Public School

Do You Feel Lucky?
Helen used probability with computer simulations to create and test different strategies for the card game High-Low.  Her goal was to adapt the idea of card counting used in Blackjack to improve chances of winning. Helen programmed a computer simulation of the game and collected different kinds of win/lose statistics. She came up with a strategy that took advantage of a "running count" of high/low cards, and changed her program.  Finally, she tested a strategy only a computer could use, one that remembered all cards left at any time, to measure the best result possible.

Megan Gran

Grade 7

Algonquin Road Public School

Trashbot: The Path of the Future
Megan Gran programmed an Arduino robot to follow a line, bringing the garbage down to the end of a driveway. Using ultrasonic sensors, the robot avoids obstacles along the way, making it safe for children and animals while helping people with mobility problems accomplish chores. Megan spent four months building and programming her robot. Megan originally learned about building and programming robots in the Algonquin Robotics Club. She would like to thank Martin Gran who mentored her. Megan plans to make a full scale of her robot, possibly for her science fair project next year.

John Laamanen

Grade 7

Algonquin Road Public School

Magnetic Motor: Potential Clean Energy
John Laamanen used magnets to create circular repulsion to build his own Magnetic Motor that can repulse and create clean energy. He conducted many experiments and used his ideas and findings to improve his Magnetic Motor. His goal was to develop the most effective and environmentally friendly way possible to create clean, free energy.

Lauren Wood

Grade 8

R. L. Beattie Public School

Sudden Impact
Lauren’s experiment simulated low velocity meteorite impact craters. She determined the effect of a projectile’s size and drop height on the diameter of its resulting impact crater in a sand-filled container. She observed how mass and velocity are important factors in crater formation. Although the impact velocities encountered in this experiment were low compared to real meteorite impact structures, one can still observe and investigate important physical principles related to these collisions. Lauren discovered a correlation between some of the very old, very large impact craters and rich ore deposits associated with them.

2012 Sudbury Regional Science Fair Winners from Rainbow Schools



JUNIOR DIVISION – ENGINEERING 



Third Place
Insulation Competition
Stephanie Smuland
Pinecrest Public School
This project also received:
Ontario Power Generation Award
Energy Ambassador Award 

First Place
Magnetic Motor: Potential Clean Energy
John Laamanen
Algonquin Road Public School
This project also received:
Environmental Award
Founding Members’ Award

JUNIOR DIVISION – LIFE SCIENCES



Fourth Place
Do Fingerprints Run in Families?
Ben Vokey
R. L. Beattie Public School
This project also received:
Laurentian University Forensic Sciences Award


Third Place
Do You Remember?
Katie Yao

Matilda Hick
R. L. Beattie Public School
This project also received:
Dennis Roberts Memorial Award

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION – LIFE SCIENCES



Third Place
Localization of Doxorubicin in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cells
Sarah MacLean
Lockerby Composite School
This project also received:
Laurentian Chemistry/Biochemistry Award       

JUNIOR DIVISION – PHYSICAL SCIENCES



Honourable Mention
HE SHOOTS HE SCORES
Jack Nykilchyk

Hunter Lammi
Algonquin Road Public School

Third Place
Gravity well: Simulation for determining mass in the universe
Connor MacLean
Algonquin Road Public School
This project also received:
Bill Roman Award
SNOLAB Award

First Place
Sudden Impact
Lauren Wood
R. L. Beattie Public School
This project also received:
Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) Award   
Laurentian Earth Sciences Award

JUNIOR DIVISION – COMPUTER SCIENCES



Third Place
Save A Heart
Nada Abdel-Dayem
Algonquin Road Public School

First Place (Tie)
Trashbot: The Path of the Future
Megan Gran
Algonquin Road Public School
This project also received:
Laurentian University Engineering Science Award     
Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation And Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO) Award
Sudbury Mining Week Award

First Place (Tie)
Do You Feel Lucky?
Helen Czapor
R. L. Beattie Public School
This project also received:
Laurentian University Computer/Mathematics Award

SUDBURY REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR SPECIAL AWARDS

BILL ROMAN AWARD
"Best in fair" as judged by the exhibitors. 
Gravity well: Simulation for determining mass in the universe
Connor MacLean
Algonquin Road Public 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 fields of earth sciences, geology, and/or engineering.
Sudden Impact
Lauren Wood
R. L. Beattie 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. 
Do You Remember?
Katie Yao
Matilda Hick
R. L. Beattie Public School


ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
The project should deal with some aspect of land reclamation or improving water quality or other environmental issues. 
Magnetic Motor: Potential Clean Energy
John Laamanen
Algonquin Road 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. 
Magnetic Motor: Potential Clean Energy
John Laamanen
Algonquin Road Public School

JACK CEMING CHEMISTRY AWARD
The project must demonstrate outstanding chemistry. 
Style at a Cost: Cadmium and Lead
Emma Munro
Jordan Bates-Wright
Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

SNOLAB AWARD      
Outstanding projects related to sub-atomic physics, astrophysics or astronomy that demonstrates understanding and contributes to overall awareness of the topic.
Fusion: The Force of the Future
Jacob Nkut
Michael Zhou
R. L. Beattie Public School

Gravity Well: Simulation for Determining Mass in the Universe
Connor MacLean
Algonquin Road Public School


LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY BIOLOGY AWARD
The two best projects that deal with biology.
Reaction Time and the Effect of Practice
Liam Bursey
MacLeod Public School

LAURENTIAN EARTH SCIENCES AWARD
The best project that deals with the earth sciences.
Sudden Impact
Lauren Wood
R. L. Beattie Public School


LAURENTIAN CHEMISTRY/BIOCHEMISTRY AWARD       
The best project that deals with chemistry or biochemistry.
Localization of Doxorubicin in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cells
Sarah MacLean
Lockerby Composite School


LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY COMPUTER OR MATHEMATICS AWARD    
The project that best deals with mathematics or computer science. 
Do You Feel Lucky?
Helen Czapor
R. L. Beattie Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING SCIENCE AWARD     The project that best deals with engineering. 
Trashbot: The Path of the Future
Megan Gran
Algonquin Road Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY PHYSICAL SCIENCE AWARD      
The project that best deals with physics and biomedical physics. 
Magnetic Linear Accelerator
Philip Yao
Algonquin Road Public School


LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY FORENSIC SCIENCES AWARD    
The project that best deals with forensic science.
Do Fingerprints Run in Families?
Ben Vokey
R. L. Beattie Public School


LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY NEUROSCIENCE AWARD      
The project that best deals with neuroscience.
The Effect of Music on Memory
Alexandra Deck
Northeastern Elementary School


MINING INNOVATION, REHABILITATION AND APPLIED RESEARCH CORPORATION (MIRARCO) MINING AWARD
Best project related to risk assessment or mitigation in mining. 
Trashbot: The Path of the Future
Megan Gran
Algonquin Road Public School

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION AWARD
Best application of renewable energy or electrical principles to solve a technical or practical problem in the industrial, commercial, or residential fields. 
Insulation Competition
Stephanie Smuland
Pinecrest Public School

Fusion: The Force of the Future
Jacob Nkut
Michael Zhou
R. L. Beattie Public School

A Bright Idea
David Dawson
Nicholas Zmijowskyj
MacLeod Public School

Shedding Light On Energy Efficiency
Emily Murray
Churchill Public School

Magnetism
Thomas Houle
MacLeod Public School

SUDBURY MINING WEEK AWARD
The best overall project that deals with some aspect of mining. 
Trashbot: The Path of the Future
Megan Gran
Algonquin Road Public School

YOUTH SCIENCES ONTARIO – PROVINCIAL AWARDS



ENERGY AMBASSADOR AWARD 
Outstanding scientific quality with primary focus on distribution, supply management, use of conservation of electrical energy. 
Insulation Competition
Stephanie Smuland
Pinecrest Public 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.