Canada’s budding scientists display research at U of M

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This article was published 11/05/2009 (5992 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

University of Manitoba’s Max Bell Centre is bursting with brain power as 475 budding scientists from across Canada compete in the 48th annual Canada-Wide Science Fair.

Winnipeg hasn’t hosted the national science fair — Canada’s largest extracurricular youth-science event — since 1988.

On Sunday, students in grades 7 to 12 from every province and territory went to work setting up their science-fair project displays.

"I’ve never been anywhere outside of B.C.," Shakti Ramkumar, 12, said as she knelt on the floor of the Max Bell gym putting the finishing touches on her display posters. The first-time science fair participant from Surrey, B.C., has come up with a global accounting method to cap and trade each household’s ecological footprint.

"It’s a measure of our demand on the Earth’s resources," said the girl, whose family immigrated to Canada from India four years ago.

"We’re using more than the Earth can replenish."

Ramkumar is one of the 475 finalists from 102 regional science fairs that were held across the country in March and April. Five students from Manitoba are taking part.

Many of the projects address concrete problems found in our everyday lives. The students compete in a variety of categories, including life sciences, health sciences, physical sciences, biotechnology, engineering, computer science and the recently added environmental innovation category. They range from the poetic and practical to the creepy.

A Nova Scotia student found "a healthy alternative to road salt" by mixing ash with road salt to mitigate damage to the environment. An Ontario participant has attached a battery charger to a running shoe for a project dubbed "Power Walk".

Nearby, "A Model for Human Decomposition in Fresh Water and Salt Water" shows photos of immersed pork hocks in various stages of rot.

Nicholas Randall, from B.C., measured the strength of the probiotic benefits of different brands of yogurt at various stages leading up to their expiry dates.

Some of his research required the use of an autoclave — an apparatus using superheated steam under high pressure — which his scientist mother had to help him with.

The high-tech research doesn’t surprise Richard Cuthbert, co-chairman of the science fair host committee.

"I have seen an increase in complexity," said the U of M graduate student, who’s been involved in the provincial science fair for a decade.

"The students move quickly" to embrace new technologies and research methods, he said.

The standards are high, and so are the stakes. The students compete for close to $1 million in scholarships and grants. And they forge friendships with fellow science buffs from across the country — and around the world.

Students from countries outside Canada also participate in a special international category for the experience, Cuthbert said.

"It’s an opportunity for those students… to speak with researchers from Manitoba and Canada and receive feedback," he said.

Taiwan and Australia are taking part this year, but Mexico cancelled at the last minute because of the H1N1 flu epidemic.

"Mexico decided not to at the last minute… They wouldn’t compete — just in case," Cuthbert said.

He said two students from Mexico didn’t want to take any chances of infecting hundreds participants.

"It’s disappointing. It’s a great opportunity for those students to meet students from across Canada," Cuthbert said.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Canad Inns Polo Park.

The public will be able to visit the students and their projects Saturday from 9 a.m. till noon at the Max Bell Centre.

For more information see www.cwsf2009.ca

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca