WOOD BUFFALO YOUTH SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Transcription

1 WOOD BUFFALO YOUTH SCIENCE FOUNDATION Community Report 2013

2 Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation Thank you to our Sponsors Gold Silver Bronze Alberta Learning Alberta Science Fair Foundation Chartwells Canada Fort McMurray Catholic Schools Fort McMurray Public Schools Fort McMurray Today Genome Alberta Oil Sands Discovery Centre Sparksman Transport Inc. Superior Show Service 2

3 Community Report Dear Sponsors and Partners On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation (WBYSF), it is once again my great privilege to thank our many Sponsors and Supporters. Each year the Wood Buffalo Regional Science Fair has continued to grow and reach new students. This year is no exception as we increased number of projects and participants as well as included new schools to our fair. This of course would not have been possible were it not for the generosity and support of local companies and the dedication of our community s teachers and scientists. In addition to financial support, our local industries and School Boards supplied the 2013 Regional Fair with over one hundred judges and volunteers. We were also fortunate to have Dr. Marwin El-Rich, Assistant Professor, Structural Engineering at the University of Alberta as our keynote speaker to discuss his investigations into Biomechanics of the Human Spine. We are very appreciative to all these individuals and hope that the creativity and enthusiasm exhibited by our participants made the Fair a rewarding endeavor for everyone involved. Each year, the quality of research, experimentation and innovation continues to evolve. Many participants return annually and demonstrate the growth in their scientific investigation skills. New participants to the fair bring creative ideas and all those involved leave with a new appreciation for science. This year, we were very pleased to send four students and two delegates to the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Lethbridge, Alberta. These representatives of Wood Buffalo competed with over five hundred of their peers from across the country and represented team Alberta well. Our National Finalists returned with a Silver Medal, two Bronze Medals and several University Entrance Scholarships. This year also marked a momentous occasion as one of our finalists also qualified as one of four Canadian projects to rank among the 90 Regional finalists in the 2013 Google Science Fair. One of the greatest benefits of belonging to the Wood Buffalo Region is the support of our sponsors. Without this support we would not be able to provide resources for students and teachers, connections between industry, professionals and students or a platform for youth and scientific discovery. We thank you for your support and hope that with your continued support we will continue to make great strides in science inquiry in our region through the Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation. The WBRSF represents a unique opportunity for our community to come together and support curiosity with a hands on approach to learning. We look forward to continuing this relationship and very much hope you ll join us again at Keyano College on April 4, Sincerely, Daron Van Lingen President, WBYSF 3

4 Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation Mission Our mission is to promote science education within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo by providing unique opportunities for students to participate in hands-on learning exercises while interacting with local educators, researchers and industry scientists. Goals To promote, organize, and operate an annual regional science fair for students in grades four through twelve within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. To recognize and reward scientific achievement and to provide students with an opportunity to participate in the Canada-Wide Science Fair. To assist local schools in establishing their own science fairs. To provide local schools and teachers with opportunities to attend field trips, workshops, scientific talks, and other activities aimed at enhancing school science curricula. To foster curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in students by providing them with an opportunity to engage in experiment-based science. To encourage students to pursue careers in science. To build ties between students, educators, local industry and local scientists. For more information and to view the Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation s Constitution, Bylaws and Policies, please consult our website: Dr. Marwan El-Rich, Assistant Professor, Structural Engineering at the University of Alberta sharing his work on the biomechanics of the human spine with Grade 7-10 students from Fort McMurray schools. 4

5 Community Report Background The notion of founding a new Regional Science Fair in Wood Buffalo took shape nearly twenty years after the loss of the original Fort McMurray Regional Science Fair. Originally led by only three individuals, the WBRSF Steering Committee established an affiliation with Youth Science Canada in late The committee expanded to seven members as we prepared for our first Fair in the spring of With the success of the event, it was decided that the organization be re-branded the Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation. The name change reflected the desire of our organization to expand its efforts and fund and organize additional initiatives in hands-on science education within our community. The WBYSF became a registered nonprofit organization (BN: RR0001) in the fall of Representative of Wood Buffalo, our logo depicts a fusion of science and nature. In the past three years the WBYSF has continued to grow. Our Board of Directors now includes fifteen dedicated science enthusiasts from a variety of backgrounds. With the WBRSF as our flagship event, the WBYSF is committed to providing unique educational opportunities for our region s budding young scientists. The WBYSF Board of Directors Daron Van Lingen, President (Teacher, Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School) Vicki Dawe, Vice President (Teacher, Westwood Community High School) Brian Harper, Secretary (Vice Principal, Dr. Clark School) Raffi Kouyoumdjian, Secretary (Teacher, Dr. Clark School) Vincella Thompson, Treasurer (Chair, University Studies, Keyano College) Corey Conroy (Teacher, Athabasca Delta Community School) Connie Farrell (Fort McMurray Catholic School Consultant) Louis Dingley (Chair, University Studies, Keyano College) Andrew Handley (Teacher, École McTavish Junior High) Madonna Macisaac (Engineer, Suncor Energy Inc.) Donna McCullough (Teacher, Westview School) Robert van Thiel (Teacher, Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School) D Andre Wilson (Engineer, Suncor Energy Inc.) The Board of Directors consists entirely of volunteers and includes local industry scientists, elementary and high school science teachers, university instructors, and other science enthusiasts. 5

6 Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation Financial Summary Revenue Contributions 68,545 78,003 Expenses Advertising & promotion Awards to participants 10,600 13,325 Bank charges Delegates Donations 1, Entertainment - - Hospitality room - - Medals & Awards - - Office supplies Participant meals 1,613 1,705 Photography fees 2,753 2,629 Printing Professional Fees 1,365 1,418 Promotional Items 5,647 9,336 Reception costs 3,909 3,213 School grant - - Speaker Fees - 1,595 Table & chair rental 13,342 16,209 Theatre rental 841 1,540 Travel 2,951 2,157 Website 482 2,001 Youth Science Foundation 10,231 9,511 57,350 66,772 NET SURPLUS (DEFICIT) 11,195 11,231 ACCUMULATED SURPLUS (DEFICIT), BEGINNING OF YEAR (13,142) (1,947) ACCUMULATED SURPLUS (DEFICIT), END OF YEAR (1,947) 9,

7 Community Report New Faces on the Board At the inception of the Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation, there existed a fundamental group of core volunteers, dedicated to the betterment and furthering of project-based science work in the region. As time has run on, the original core group of people has evolved to include people from different backgrounds and different skill sets. Now again we find ourselves on the cusp of another evolution with some directors terms expiring, moving out of the community or for other personal reasons. In any event this fall at our Annual General Meeting we will be electing 5 new members to the Board into the positions of secretary, treasurer and judge-in-chief. The Board s role is to ensure that the organization is financially sound, fiscally responsible and is in a position to deliver on the goals and objects of the organization. Participation Trends Rapid growth is common with new fairs as they gain a footing in the community and students and parents gain familiarity with the opportunities and benefits of participating in project-based science. We are happy to see that in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo there is such a commitment to Project-Based Science. Almost all of the schools have regular School Science Fairs. This year, the Board revisted the quotas for each school fair determining how many students can be sent to the Regional Science Fair We strive to maximize the number of students who can come to the Regional Science Fair while still being cognisant of organization sustainability The Foundation will seek to support the current science fairs happening while creating more opportunities for teacher development, resource sharing and connecting that gap between students and STEM careers. 7

8 Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation Finalist Breakdown 2013 Finalists by School Finalists by Age Category Active Schools 2013 Athabaca Delta Community School 2 Beacon Hill School 8 Bill Woodward School 11 Centre Boréal 2 Composite High School 5 Dr. K. A. Clark School 10 École St. Paul School 6 École Dickinsfield School 3 École Fr Beauregard School 6 École McTavish School 13 Father J.A. Turcotte School 6 Fr Patrick Mercredi High School 24 Fort McMurray Christian School 8 Fort McMurray Islamic School 11 Good Shepherd School 5 Greely Road School 4 Holy Trinity High School 13 Sister Mary Phillips School 7 St. Martha School 9 St. Anne School 9 St. Gabriel School 5 Thickwood Heights School 3 Timberlea School 8 Westview School 7 Westwood School 19 Total marked a milestone in the history of our organization as we saw our 1000th student to come onto the Exhibit Hall floor and share their project with us. We also noticed another encouraging statistic in that the majority of our students have been young women. This is exciting, as the Foundation will embark on new endeavours and programs to engage our youth in STEM careers and University paths. 120 Senior 100 Intermediate Junior Elementary ,000 th Finalist! % 54 % Statistics based on finalists participating in WBRSFs since Finalists that attended the Canada Wide Science Fair with Director Corey Conroy 8

9 Community Report 2013 Award Winners! Imperial Oil Environmental Science Award ($250) Separation of Bitument Through Ionic Liquids Student: Joseph MacNeil, Billey Foley School: Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School WBEA Crysal Clean Award ($250) Pollution Prevention Green Roofs - Cool Idea? Student: Parthiv Patel School: Timberlea School Student: Jhon Famadico School: Dr. K.A. Clark School Nexen Innovator Award ($250) The Effects of a Vortex on the Energy Production of a Hydroelectric generator Student: Malcolm Fischer, Zachery Frampton School: Composite High School BP Physical Science Award ($250) What Chemicals are Most Effect at Producing Fire-Retardent Wall Paint? Student: Prachi Shah Peter Brown Space Science Award ($250) Which way does the moon orbit around the earth? Students: Jean-Baptiste Durieu School: École St. Paul School Syncrude Material Sciences Award ($250) What Chemicals are Most Effective at Producing Fire-Retardent Wall Paint? Student: Prachi Shah Enbridge Award for Safety ($250) Dancing Speakers Student: Stefan Eybers, Tyler Lockyer School: Composite High School Keyano College Behavioural Sciences Award ($250) Get your Vote On! A Study Assessing Behaviour Determinants in Northern AB Student: Heli Patel, Ashlesha Deshpande Keyano College Consumer Award ($250 cash) Who is the King of Pop? Student: Jacob Collins School: St. Martha CNRL Mathematics and Computing Award ($250 ) Which Batting Statistic has the Strongest Correlation to the Amount of Runs Scored in a Given Year Students: Anand Mathew Genome Alberta Award ($250) Sanitation Investigation Moldy Bread Student: Drumhil Shah Student: Shyann Lockyer, Ewan Forbes School: École McTavish Jr High School: Greely Road School Penicillin Allergy Student: Evangeline Cardinal School: Athabasca Delta Community School Total E & P Young Scientist Award ($250) Mummification of an Orange - an anlytical study Student: Dew Bhaumik, Vikram Panesar School: Sister Mary Phillips Total E & P Young Innovator Award ($250) Carbonic Car Student: Nicholar Avery, Alexander Price School: Beacon Hill School Total E & P Earth Sciences Award ($250) Oil Go Green Student: Zeel Patel School: École McTavish Junior High Shell Award for Environmental Innovation ($250) What material absorbs water and hydraulic oil the best? Student: Lai School: Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School Shell Health Sciences Award ($250) Automating the diagnosis of Heart Conditions Student: Anam Rizvi Curry it up! Student: Akshaya Lakshmi School: École McTavish Junior High Suncor Ingenuity Award ($250) Follow the Light into a More Efficient Tomorrow Student: Shena Changirwa, Tanvi Patel Suncor Award for Engineering ($250) How Close Do Two Cars Have to be to Affect Their Handling? Student: Connor Nelson School: Timberlea School Automatic the Diagnosis of Heart Conditions Student: Anam Rizvi 9

10 Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation Canada-Wide Science Fair Finalists Automating the Diagnosis of Heart Conditions Student: Anam Rizvi Abstract: This project investigates an alternate method of determining abnormalities in the electrical impulses of the heart. Instead of using an ECG which maps the electrical impulses as a function of time, I look at how the different frequencies present can represent different abnormalities. I then take the patterns I have found and input them into MATlab in order to automize the diagnosis. Awards: Silver Medal Excellence Award Senior ($300) Dalhousie University Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship ($2,500) University of British Columbia Science Entrance Award ($2,000) University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship ($2,000) Western University Scholarship ($2,000) TOTAL: $8,800 Get Your Vote On! Student: Heli Patel, Ashlesha Deshpande Abstract: The relationship between gender, age, and ethnicity of voters on the gender, age, and ethnicity of candidates was examined using a preferential voting system, without the use of political agendas. It was expected that these three factors would demonstrate a strong influence on the preferences of voters with respect to candidate selection. Awards: Bronze Medal Excellence Award Senior ($100) University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship ($1,000) Western University Scholarship ($1,000) Total: $2,100 Exercise for an Embryo! Students: Maithili Udupa Abstract: The purpose of this project is to describe the influence of pre-pregnancy physical activity on gestational weight gain among women with different pre-pregnancy BMIs. Physical activity data was separated into four distinct dimensions (work, sports, leisure and total) to find specific links between the rigorousness of the activity performed and weight gain. Maintaining a healthy exercise regime is essential prior to one s pregnancy. Awards: Bronze Medal Excellence Award Senior ($100) University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship ($1,000) Western University Scholarship ($1,000) Total: $2,

11 Community Report Highlights from the 2013 Science Fair Season! 11

12 Wood Buffalo Youth Science Foundation 8815 Franklin Avenue Fort McMurray, AB, T9H 2H7 phone: (780) fax: (780)