THIRTY of the province’s bright young minds showcased their science projects on Sunday at CBC Vancouver’s inaugural Science Fair to an audience of more than 500. A gamut of topics, based on technology and environment, were featured, including a biogas harvester, modern bridge design, hydraulic power, a robotic human hand, wifi testing, and the wonders of zooplankton. The unanimous winner was grade seven student Keenan Warhurst from Lillooet.
“I was overwhelmed by the caliber and talent of the students at our first CBC Vancouver Science Fair,” says Johanna Wagstaffe, CBC Vancouver’s Senior Meteorologist and Seismology Expert and Science fair judge.“How inspiring to see the curiosity and passion that these young scientists have for STEM. It was very difficult to select the winners as all the students really put their heart into the science and their presentations! Congratulations all.”
Warhurst’s project centred on how helmets need improved designs and better fit protection. He used technology and applied the science of oobleck and concussions to create a prototype to test his theory. Warhurst attends Cayoosh Elementary. His grand prize was a special 3D printed trophy by local company Tinkerine, a $750 Best Buy gift card, and a spot in one of SFU’s Science AL!VE science camps.
Second-place went to Madrona School’s Ziven Anderson, a grade seven student from Vancouver. He fused technology and human biology to replicate a human hand.
Surrey’s Vienna Tambre, a grade seven student who attends SAIL @ Brookside Academy, was third-place with a project asking the question “are mushrooms the new plastic?”
“CBC Vancouver is here for the community and we really wanted to celebrate some of our youngest and brightest stars in science with our inaugural Science Fair,” adds Johnny Michel, Senior Managing Director, CBC British Columbia and Alberta. “It was wonderful to see so many people come out on a sunny day to enjoy science and chat with the students. We definitely hope to make this an annual event.”
The CBC Vancouver inaugural Science Fair is also CBC’s first-ever in Canada. More than 100 student submissions were received from across the province. The top 30 include students were from Delta, Lillooet, Lytton, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pender Island, Penticton, Pender Island, Lytton, Richmond, Surrey, Trail, West Vancouver, Vancouver, and Victoria.
Judges included Wagstaffe, CBC Radio One’s Quirks & Quarks host Bob McDonald, Science World’s Manager of Partnership Development & Science Promotion Magda Byma, and Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair’s 2018 Gold Medalist Nicholas Murray.
