Strait Regional Science Fair 2024: Celebrating Student Scientific Achievement, Creativity and Innovation
During the last several months, young scientists in the Strait Region have been busy preparing, fine-tuning and presenting their projects at local school fairs. Winners of the school fairs will compete at the upcoming Strait Regional Science Fair scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, 2024, which will be a hybrid model of students presenting projects both in-person and virtually. Up to four students from Grades 7 to 12 may go on to compete at the Canada Wide Science Fair scheduled for May 25 to June 1, 2024, in Ottawa.
On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the public is invited to an open house to view the Grades 3 to 12 student projects from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Nova Scotia Community College, Strait Area Campus. The in-person Science Fair Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the SAERC Auditorium.
Students from Grades 3 to 12 are eligible to participate in the Strait Regional Science Fair. Grades 3 to 6 projects are judged on scientific skill, layout and design, originality, interview and artistic value. The Grades 7 to 12 projects are separated into three levels, Junior, Intermediate and Senior, and six divisions to facilitate judging. In addition, students are asked to classify their project as one of three types - experiment, innovation or study, for the purpose of evaluating the scientific thought portion of the judging. The seven science divisions include innovation, energy, environment, health, information, resources and discovery. The Strait Regional Centre for Education recognizes the science behind traditional Indigenous Knowledge. A new prize will be awarded this year to a student whose project shares Indigenous Knowledge about environmental management, or relates Indigenous Knowledge to any of the project categories above; connects Two-Eyed Seeing to a scientific concept; or is relevant to Indigenous community needs.
Participation in the Fair provides students with an excellent educational opportunity, helps them develop their critical thinking, problem-solving skills and appreciation for science; and can spark a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Strait Regional Centre for Education would like to thank members of the 2024 Science Fair Committee for their ongoing dedication to providing students with an excellent educational opportunity. The Strait Regional Science Fair Planning Committee members include Andrew Clarey, Chair, Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre/Academy; Tracy MacIsaac, SAERC; Stephanie MacDonald, Dalbrae Academy; Brandon MacKinnon, Fanning Education Centre/Canso Academy; Shannon MacLennan, Inverness Education Centre/Academy; Justin Fougere, Technology Integration Mentor; Brian van den Heuvel, Coordinator of InSchool/Technology/Assessment/Nova Scotia Virtual School; and April Weaver, Coordinator of Science/Math Programs.
The SRCE also extends special thanks to the local business community, St. Francis Xavier University, Dalhousie University, St. Mary’s University, Nova Scotia Community College (Strait Area Campus) and Cape Breton University for their continued support of the event and for their commitment to sponsoring the student awards. Sincere thanks to the judges who volunteer their time to review the outstanding projects and to Bob MacEachern for donating his time to emcee the Awards Ceremony.