As many of our schools are well and truly into their own science fair research projects, here is a great news release from the Science Fair Foundation of BC. For more information on the Northern BC Regional Science Fair please check out their website at http://nbcrsf.wordpress.com/
January 17, 2013
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Contact: Val Dipasupil
vdipasupil@sciencefairfoundationbc.ca
Science Fair Team – Off to Taiwan!
Vancouver, BC – On January 27th, two British Columbia students and an educator will board a plane for Taipei, Taiwan to represent British Columbia and Canada at the annual Taiwan International Science Fair to be held January 29th to February 5th, 2013. Keltie Murdoch is a Grade 12 student at Mount Baker Secondary School in Cranbrook and Kevala Van Volkenburg is a Grade 10 student at North Peace Secondary in Fort St. John. They will be accompanied by educator Sandi Lavery from the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook.
Kevala’s project at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in 2012 “Finding a Better Brain Booster” compared the effects of different activities on students’ academic performance in reading and mathematics. She demonstrated that short periods of aerobic exercise significantly improved performance in both areas relative to control groups performing Brain Gymactivities or no activities at all. Keltie’s environmental engineering project,” Geo Air”, showed that air circulated through underground pipes and then pumped into the heating system of a house during the winter months and into a cooling system during the summer could dramatically improve the efficiency of both.
The students’ week at the Taiwan Fair will include a home-stay with a Taiwanese family, involvement in cultural activities, presentation to judges and a public exhibition of their work.
Ms. Murdoch and Ms. Van Volkenburg are science fair veterans – both have participated in their local Regional Science Fairs and at the national Canada-Wide Science Fair.
Come spring, thousands of British Columbia students will present projects for school science fairs. As a result they will develop an appreciation for scientific research as they engage in their own discoveries, prepare displays and present their work. At least 2,500 of these young scientists, from schools throughout British Columbia, will take part in the annual Regional Science Fairs in March and April.
“Through scientific research, Science Fair participants are able to gain important life and job skills which help reveal where new career opportunities exist”, said Patti Leigh, Founder and Executive Director, Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia. “Science fairs allow students to stretch their imaginations and intellect, and they provide a chance for young scientists to network with their peers and with potential mentors.
Attendance by British Columbian students at the Taiwan International Science Fair is part of an international science fair exchange program established by the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia. British Columbia Regional Science Fairs are supported by the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia.