This year's regional science fair will be held on the 30-31st of March. Students interested in registering may do so as of January 30th, and the registration deadline is March 23rd. The fair is open to students in grades 6-12. We are also looking for volunteers and judges (registration opens Jan 15) to help out on the day of the fair.

This year the Canadian Nuclear Research Society - Chalk River Branch (CNS-CRB) is sponsoring two major competitions in conjunction with the Renfrew County Regional Science Fair. Students participating in the fair will be eligible for the Nuclear Science and Technology special award. This award recognizes projects which illustrate, explain, or demonstrate an application, principle, or concept relating to nuclear science and technology and will be judged by a team of CNS-CRB judges. The three winning projects will receive a cash prize of $150.

Additionally, the CNS-CRB will be running a poster contest for grade 6,7, and 8 students on the day of the fair. This event is being held separately from the science fair, it is not necessary to enter the fair to participate in the poster contest. The three best posters will receive prizes worth $100. Students interested in this contest are asked to contact Ruxandra Dranga of the CNS-CRB by March 22nd to ensure there will be space available for everyone. Other inquiries about the contest should be sent to Ruxandra as well.

For more information about these events:

Special Award

Poster Contest

• Fundraising Coordinator
• School Liaison Coordinator
• Food Coordinator

In addition to position specific responsibilities, committee members are expected to attend committee planning meetings (usually 6 a year), and be available on the day of the fair. For a complete listing of position responsibilities, please see our Committee Positions and Duties document.

If you're interested in getting involved, please contact the committee chair, Mike Reardon

Renfrew County added three more awards to its credit at the recent Canada Wide Science Fair held in Toronto. Alexandria Schraenkler won a Bronze Medal in the Junior Category. Rebeccah Sandrelli won a Bronze Medal in the Senior Category, and the Canadian Stockholm Junior Water Prize.

Alexandria is a student at St. Michael's. Her project was entitled "Does the water quality affect the rising of yeast?". Rebeccah is a student at Bishop Smith Catholic High School. Her project was entitled, "Filter Braced for the Pharmaceutically Laced".

Maiah Devereaux and Kelvin Leung also represented Renfrew County at the national event. Maiah is a student at Highview and her project was entitled "Eco-friendly vs Commercial Cleaner: what makes the bugs in your bathroom run?". Kelvin is also a Highview student. His project was called "Maximizing Wind Turbine Blade Efficiency".

Photos from the trip are here.

Congratulations to our Canada-Wide Science Fair winners Rebeccah Sandrelli, Maiah Devereaux, Kelvin Leung, and Alexandria Schraenkler who will be moving on to the national competition in May. Complete results are below, and the gallery is here:

Grade 6

Physical & Mathematical Sciences

Sponsored by: Armed Forces Communication Electronics Association Education Fund
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Honourable Mention - Bryce Pynn, Pine View, for "Where Did The Water Go?"
• Third - Jason Gibson, Pine View, for "Electrical Conductivity"
• Second - Miranda Mantha, St. Anthony's, for "A Matter Of Fact: The Facts About Matter"
• First - Andrew Corriveau, Rockwood, for "Comparing Shampoo"

Life Sciences

Sponsored by: AECL Chalk River Branch
Presented by: Martin Thompson

• Honourable Mention - Dustin Reynolds, Eganville, for "World's Deadly Snakes"
• Third - Julia Enright, Jessica Daze, John XXIII, for "Aquaponics"
• Second - Will March, Rockwood, for "Watching the Green Grass Grow"
• First - Alexandra Pruszkowski, Morgan Meilleur, St. Mary's, for "All Cracked Up!"

Health Sciences

Sponsored by: Bell Canada
Presented by: Linda Assad

• Second - Ashlyn Hader, Cobden, for "The Power of Positivity"
• First - Andrew Schwan, Cobden, for "Are Some Items That We Touch Regularly Have More Bacteria Than A Toilet Seat?"

Engineering and Computer Science

Sponsored by: Professional Engineers Ontario Algonquin Chapter
Presented by: Dave Wilder

• Honourable Mention - Nicholas Norton, Colton Simon, Cobden, for "Light Efficiency"
• Third - Morgan Paquette, St. Francis of Assisi, for "Flying pens"
• Second - Garrett Garrard, Cathedral, for "How the number andshape of fins influences a water bottle rocket's time of flight"
• First - Mark Gharghouri, St. Mary's, for "Magnetic Rifle"

Junior

Physical & Mathematical Sciences

Sponsored by: Armed Forces Communication Electronics Association Education Fund
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Honourable Mention - Alyx Cousins, Helen Tunn, Rockwood, for "Homemade Solar Air Furnace"
• Third - Emma March, Rockwood, for "Desalination Devices: Introducing Differing Variables To Increas Device's Efficiency"
• Second - David Couture, St. Mary's, for "Voltaic Pile a.k.a. The Homemade Battery"
• First - Ryan Cooper, Micaela Cooper, Cathedral, for "Let the Cabbage Decide - ACID OR BASE?"

Life Sciences

Sponsored by: AECL Chalk River Branch
Presented by: Martin Thompson

• Honourable Mention - William Frederick, Aiden Gauthier, Rockwood, for "The Science of Salad"
• Third - Kelly Kettner, Pine View, for "? Degradable ?"
• Second - Alexandria Schraenkler, St. Michael's, for "Does the water quality affect the rising of yeast?"
• First - Maiah Devereaux, Highview, for "Eco-friendly vs Commercial Cleaner: what makes the bugs in your bathroom run?"

Health Sciences

Sponsored by: Bell Canada
Presented by: Linda Assad

• Honourable Mention - Danielle Hall, Samantha Teather, Highview, for "Drip Filtration"
• Third - Johanna Dwyer, St. Michael's, for "How Warm Are Your Clothes?"
• Second - Riley Vaillancourt, Sebastian Carbone, Rockwood, for "Concussions"
• First - Jessica Schwan, Amy Wright, Cobden, for "Which Hand Cleaner Removes The Most Minerals, Salts And Metals."

Engineering and Computer Science

Sponsored by: Professional Engineers Ontario Algonquin Chapter
Presented by: Dave Wilder

• Honourable Mention - Sage Tremblay, St. Mary's, for "Glow Sticks"
• Third - Brady Smith, Alex Ploughman, Champlain Discovery, for "Steam Boat"
• Second - Sophie Krueger, Eganville, for "Changing Warfare Forever Leonardo Da Vinci's Tank"
• First - Kelvin Leung, Highview, for "Maximizing Wind Turbine Blade Efficiency"

Senior

Life Sciences

Sponsored by: AECL Chalk River Branch
Presented by: Martin Thompson

• First - Rebeccah Sandrelli, Bishop Smith, for "Filter Braced for the Pharmaceutically Laced"

Special Awards

Judges Choice Awards

Sponsored by: RCRSTF
Presented by: Paul Lesson

• William Frederick, Aiden Gauthier, Rockwood, for "The Science of Salad"
• Kelly Kettner, Pine View, for "? Degradable ?"
• Abigail Stevens, Becca Ballman, Highview, for "Natural Ways to Clean Coins"

AFCEA Award

Sponsored by: Armed Forces Communication Electronics Association Education Fund
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Jason Gibson, Pine View, for "Electrical Conductivity"

Ontario Power Generation Awards

Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Jason Gibson, Pine View, for "Electrical Conductivity"

Bell Canada Award

Sponsored by: Bell Canada
Presented by: Linda Assad

• John Summerby, Highview, for "The Giant Hogweed"

Nuclear Research Award of Excellence

Sponsored by: Canadian Nuclear Society - Chalk River Branch
Presented by: Jeremy Pencer

• Mark Gharghouri, St. Mary's, for "Magnetic Rifle"
• Alyx Cousins, Helen Tunn, Rockwood, for "Homemade Solar Air Furnace"
• Kelvin Leung, Highview, for "Maximizing Wind Turbine Blade Efficiency"

2011 Hydro One Energy Ambassador Award

Sponsored by: Hydro One
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Kelvin Leung, Highview, for "Maximizing Wind Turbine Blade Efficiency"

2011 Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories Award

Sponsored by: OAML
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Alexandria Schraenkler, St. Michael's, for "Does the water quality affect the rising of yeast?"

2011 University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship Award

Sponsored by: University of Ottawa
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Rebeccah Sandrelli, Bishop Smith, for "Filter Braced for the Pharmaceutically Laced"

2011 UOIT Innovation Award

Sponsored by: UOIT
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Alyx Cousins, Helen Tunn, Rockwood, for "Homemade Solar Air Furnace"
• Emma March, Rockwood, for "Desalination Devices: Introducing Differing Variables To Increas Device's Efficiency"

2011 Environmental Innovator Award

Sponsored by: Ministry of the Environment
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Rebeccah Sandrelli, Bishop Smith, for "Filter Braced for the Pharmaceutically Laced"

RCFA Award for best Agriculture Projects

Sponsored by: Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture
Presented by: Mayor Bob Sweet (Petawawa)

• Thrid - Meghan Ryland, Celina Fletcher, St. Mary's, for "Plant: Growth or Failure"
• Second - Will March, Rockwood, for "Watching the Green Grass Grow"
• First - Nathan Thur, Champlain Discovery, for "Do Magnets Affect Radish Plant Growth"

Best Investigative

Sponsored by: Forward Thinking Marketing Co.
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Tori Giroux, Havana Hebert, Rockwood, for "Anthropology Gone Yellow"

EnviroExpo Special Award

Sponsored by: EnviroExpo
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Sage Tremblay, St. Mary's, for "Glow Sticks"

Chemical Institute of Canada - Deep River Section Award

Sponsored by: Chemical Institute of Canada, Deep River Chapter
Presented by: Deputy Mayor Ron Gervais (Pembroke)

• Ryan Cooper, Micaela Cooper, Cathedral, for "Let the Cabbage Decide - ACID OR BASE?"

Grand Awards

Chalk River Professional Employee's Group / Chalk River Branch Award of Excellence Best Grade Six Project

Sponsored by: Chalk River Professional Employee's Group / Chalk River Branch
Presented by: Deputy Mayor Ron Gervais (Pembroke)

• Andrew Schwan, Cobden, for "Are Some Items That We Touch Regularly Have More Bacteria Than A Toilet Seat?"

2011 Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Stepping Stone Award

Sponsored by: Ministry of Research and Innovation
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Alexandria Schraenkler, St. Michael's, for "Does the water quality affect the rising of yeast?"

RCRSTF Award of Excellence

Sponsored by: RCRSTF
Presented by: Mike Reardon

• Kelvin Leung, Highview, for "Maximizing Wind Turbine Blade Efficiency"

RCRSTF - Award of Excellence

Sponsored by: RCRSTF
Presented by: Dr. Carl W. Turner

• Maiah Devereaux, Highview, for "Eco-friendly vs Commercial Cleaner: what makes the bugs in your bathroom run?"

RCRSTF - AFMSA Award of Excellence

Sponsored by: Alice & Fraser Sports
Presented by: Dr. Carl W. Turner

• Rebeccah Sandrelli, Bishop Smith, for "Filter Braced for the Pharmaceutically Laced"

This year the fair will be held at the Petawawa South Side Community Centre, 1578 Wolf Ave, Petawawa. The regional science fair does not provide a lunch for students, however, there are a number of local food outlets including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Tim Hortons, Subway, McDonalds, and Kelsey's.

April 8th

4:30pm – 6:30pm

Committee Members Setup

6:30pm – 8:00pm

Registration and project setup and safety

April 9th

8:00am

Students arrive

9:00am – 12:00pm

Division Category Judging. Students must be at their projects on time.

11:45am

Feedback sheets to students

12:00am – 1:00pm

Lunch Break
If you leave the building please return to your project by 12:55pm as judging for special awards starts promptly at 1:00pm

1:00pm – 2:30pm

Special Awards Judging

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Entertainment - Radical Science

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Awards Ceremony

4:30pm - 5:00pm

Project Takedown

“We are pleased to have the Regional Science Fair as part of our organization," says Karen Sullivan, Executive Director of the Deep River Science Academy. “We look forward to providing opportunities during the school year to engage youth in science within our region.

“The Fair and the Academy are both science organizations that can work very effectively together with the mutual goals of encouraging science exploration and scientific thinking in youth” says Mike Reardon, Chair of the Renfrew County Regional Science & Technology Fair. “We are grateful to the Academy for welcoming us, and we look forward to working with them in the future.”

DRSA will initially absorb the Fair into its organization for 2011, allowing the Fair to remain a charitable organization. Donations and sponsorship will remain the same, ensuring the continued support of key partners. The Fair will commit to sitting on the board of the DRSA and assisting in other DRSA projects and general operations.

The 2011 Renfrew County Regional Science & Technology Fair will be held at the Petawawa Southside Community Centre on April 9, 2011. The Fair is open to any student in Renfrew County, in grades six through 12. The student’s school does not have to hold their own in-school in order for the student to enter the Regional Fair. There is no qualifying process - any student can enter the Fair.

The next event for the DRSA will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Summer Science program. In addition to the six-week summer program in July and August, the DRSA will now be able to host the Fair in the spring under the capable hands and expertise of Mike Reardon and the Fair committee.

For more information on the Deep River Science Academy, visit their website at: www.drsa.ca.

Interested students from Grades 6 to 12 in the Renfrew County have until March 30th at 4pm to complete registration.

Congratulations Rebeccah!

Photos from the trip are here.