Young scientists from Rainbow Schools headed to Canada-Wide Science Fair

Three young scientists from Rainbow Schools will compete at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Regina, Saskatchewan from May 14 to 20, 2017. 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.

Nethra Wickramasinghe, a Grade 8 student at MacLeod Public School, is participating in the Canada-Wide Science Fair for her second consecutive year. Last year, she built a filter to purify laundry water. This year, she looked at a way to preserve heat in homes with a thermopile. Her project is entitled Hot Air Insu-Layer.

Brendon Matusch, a Grade 9 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, created a neural network to sort apples and bananas based on ripeness. He compared the network’s performance to humans asked to do the same task. The project, Convolutional Neural Networks for Evaluation of Qualitative Characteristics in Quality Control, won Best in Fair at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair.

Megan Gran, a Grade 12 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, engineered a robotic system to assist individuals with physical disabilities with her project called Robotic Innovations Can Change Lives by Completing Common Tasks. The robot reduces the stress and discomfort of taking the garbage to the end of the driveway, making independent living easier.

“We are very proud of Nethra, Brendon and Megan 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. We wish them continued success as they compete at the national level.”

Congratulations to all Sudbury Regional Science Fair award recipients from Rainbow Schools:

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION – COMPUTER SCIENCES

First
Convolutional Neural Networks for Evaluation
of Qualitative Characteristics in Quality Control
Brendon Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Second
Simulating an environment for microorganisms
Elliot Beaudoin
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

JUNIOR DIVISION – ENGINEERING

First
Hot Air Insu-Layer
Nethra Wickramasinghe
MacLeod Public School

Second
The Dive Claw
Cydney Tinkham
Sidney Mantle
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Fourth
The Lilypad – Automated Underwater Prospector
Caelan Mantle
Carson Bronicheski
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

SENIOR DIVISION – ENGINEERING

First
Robotic Innovations Can Change Lives
by Completing Common Tasks
Megan Gran
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

JUNIOR DIVISION – LIFE SCIENCES

Second
Say No to Weedz: An innovation to reduce the amount
of Eurasian Water Milfoil in lakes
Quinn Roos
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Third
Is Green Really Green?
Jake Priddle
Larchwood Public School

Fourth
Taking the Bite Out of Summer
Lauren Fearn
Algonquin Road Public School

SENIOR DIVISION – LIFE SCIENCES

First
Visual Perception Male Vs. Female
Cassyra Walia
Kara Passi
Lasalle Secondary School

Second
Cell Phones: A Distraction
Sharleigh Peters
Taylor Keminen
Lasalle Secondary School

JUNIOR DIVISION – PHYSICAL SCIENCES

First
Flaming Fabrics
Celia O’Donnell
Carina Prato
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Second
A Penny For Your Drops
Hannah Gillingham
Pinecrest Public School

Third
Why Does It Matter? Measure The Splatter!
Jessica Larocque
Pinecrest Public School

Fourth
How does temperature affect a helium balloon?
Eryn Akkanen
Sophie Windover
Pinecrest Public School

**** SPECIAL AWARDS****

BILL AND OLGA ROMAN AWARD
“Best in fair” as judged by the exhibitors.
Robotic Innovations Can Change Lives by Completing Common Tasks
Megan Gran
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

BIOTECHNOLOGY AWARD
The project which best demonstrates the application of knowledge of biological systems to solve a problem, create a product, or provide a service.
Taking the Bite Out of Summer
Lauren Fearn
Algonquin Road Public School

CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN MINING INNOVATION (CEMI) AWARD
An innovative project that helps illustrate the importance of mining research & technology development within society or contributes to the fields of earth sciences, geology, and/or engineering.
The Dive Claw
Cydney Tinkham
Sidney Mantle
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

CHEMICAL INSTITUTE OF CANADA AWARD
The best project that deals with a chemical topic or process.
Comparing acids and bases, problems and solutions
Lachlan Kempson
Stephen Spurr
Algonquin Road Public School

CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
The best project that deals with children’s health.
How Clean Is Your Screen
Emma Dyer
Sydney Brooks
Algonquin Road Public School

CLEAN AIR SUDBURY AWARD
Outstanding project dealing with air quality or climate change.
Methane Gas Who Cut The Cheese?
Carter Benson
Stephen Irvine
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

DENNIS ROBERTS MEMORIAL AWARD
The best project which studies human behaviour, animal behaviour, or thinking/feeling processes with emphasis on adherence to ethical principles.
Memory Improvement Physical Vs. Mental
Zunairah Hasan
Leena Abdel-Dayem
Algonquin Road Public School

FOUNDING MEMBERS’ AWARD
The best project that exemplifies effort and perseverance.
Taking the Bite Out of Summer
Lauren Fearn
Algonquin Road Public School

JACK CEMING CHEMISTRY AWARD
The project must demonstrate outstanding chemistry.
Got Milk?
Fatemah Alshaikh
MacLeod Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY BIOLOGY AWARD
The two best projects that contribute to the field of biology.
Taking the Bite Out of Summer
Lauren Fearn
Algonquin Road Public School

HARQUAIL SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES AWARD
The best project that contributes to the field of earth sciences.
Methane Gas Who Cut the Cheese?
Carter Benson
Stephen Irvine
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY/BIOCHEMISTRY AWARD
The best project that contributes to the field of chemistry or biochemistry.
Fizzzz
Tessa Favero
Henni Laberge
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS AWARD
The best project that contributes to the field of mathematics and computer science.
Convolutional Neural Networks for Evaluation of
Qualitative Characteristics in Quality Control
Brendon Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

BHARTI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AWARD
The two best projects that contribute to the field of engineering.
Hot Air Insu-Layer
Nethra Wickramasinghe
MacLeod Public School

The Dive Claw
Cydney Tinkham
Sidney Mantle
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY PHYSICS AWARD
The best project that contributes to the field of physics and biomedical physics.
How does temperature affect a helium balloon?
Eryn Akkanen
Sophie Windover
Pinecrest Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY FORENSIC SCIENCES AWARD
The best project that contributes to the field of forensic science.
Why Does It Matter? Measure The Splatter!
Jessica Larocque
Pinecrest Public School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY BEHAVIOURAL NEUROSCIENCE AWARD
The two best projects that contribute to the field of neuroscience.
reaction ” time ”
Chelsea Leduc
Lara El-Darazi
Valley View Public School

Memory Improvement Physical Vs. Mental
Zunairah Hasan
Leena Abdel-Dayem
Algonquin Road Public School

MCEWEN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AWARD
The two projects that best demonstrate creativity and originality.
Say No to Weedz: An innovation to reduce the amount
of Eurasian Water Milfoil in lakes
Quinn Roos
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT AWARD
The two best projects that contribute to the fields of environmental science, environmental studies, and/or archeology.
Say No to Weedz: An innovation to reduce the amount of
Eurasian Water Milfoil in lakes
Quinn Roos
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

MILMAN INDUSTRIES EQUIPMENT INNOVATION AWARD
The project that best demonstrates the importance or need for environmental consciousness as it relates to mining or other fields.
Robotic Innovations Can Change Lives by
Completing Common Tasks
Megan Gran
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

MINING INNOVATION, REHABILITATION AND APPLIED RESEARCH CORPORATION (MIRARCO) MINING AWARD
Best project related to risk assessment or mitigation in mining.
Flaming Fabrics
Celia O’Donnell
Carina Prato
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION ENGINEERING AWARD
The two projects that best contribute to the fields of chemical, electrical, mechanical, nuclear, or civil engineering.
Robotic Innovations Can Change Lives by Completing Common Tasks
Megan Gran
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION INNOVATION AWARD
The project that best demonstrates innovation by contributing to a new idea, method or device.
The Lilypad – Automated Underwater Prospector
Caelan Mantle
Carson Bronicheski
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION ENERGY AWARD
The project that best deals with power production, energy, and/or energy efficiency.
Hot Air Insu-Layer
Nethra Wickramasinghe
MacLeod Public School

ROGER ROY MATHEMATICS AWARD
The project that best utilizes mathematics and/or statistics in a creative way.
Convolutional Neural Networks for Evaluation of
Qualitative Characteristics in Quality Control
Brendon Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

MODERN MINING AND TECHNOLOGY SUDBURY AWARD
The best overall project that deals with some aspect of mining.
The Lilypad – Automated Underwater Prospector
Caelan Mantle
Carson Bronicheski
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA ADMISSION SCHOLARSHIP
The top self-nominated senior project.
Prize Type: Admission Scholarship
Cell Phones: A Distraction
Sharleigh Peters
Taylor Keminen
Lasalle Secondary School

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Awarded to two participants going to the Canada Wide Science Fair
Prize Type: $1000 scholarship to Laurentian University

Robotic Innovations Can Change Lives by Completing Common Tasks
Megan Gran
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Convolutional Neural Networks for Evaluation of
Qualitative Characteristics in Quality Control
Brendon Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

BEST OVERALL PROJECT
Convolutional Neural Networks for Evaluation of
Qualitative Characteristics in Quality Control
Brendon Matusch
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.