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June 2006
PMC-Sierra Science Fair Fun Run a huge success!
The 2006 Fun Run had its biggest year yet with over 1200 participants running the largest 5km timed run in British Columbia. The run raised over $45,000 towards the Michael Smith Endowment to support the promotion and development of Science Fair programs throughout the province. Click here to view the times of the runners and read below for further details on the run.
Also in this month's issue...
We'll tell you all about our local B.C. winners at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, introduce you to the 'Song Tappers', the inventors of an innovative online song recognition program and speak with Lindsay Babineau, who will give us an inside look at B.C.'s agricultural system! Read on for chemistry experiments that you can do at home, great places to learn more about science, and fun things that the whole family can enjoy!
PMC-Sierra Science Fair Fun Run Has Its
Biggest Year Ever!
Despite the damp weather, Fun Run participants had a great time at the seventh annual PMC-Sierra Science Fair Fun Run. After the 5km run, and 1km mini run, adults and children enjoyed the high tempo atmosphere, the entertainment of the stilit walkers and the clowns, magic tricks, face painting and free admission into science world!
This year's run raised a total of $45,000 for B.C. Science Fairs. Corporate teams from the telecommunications, software, biotechnology, energy and professional services sectors were joined by academic teams and a number of schools from the Lower Mainland to help raise funds for B.C. Science Fairs. Several well-known companies and institutions stepped up to support this often overlooked essential program for B.C.’s students.
Click here to read more.
B.C. Regional Science Fair Winners Take Home 17 Medals and Over $54,000 in Awards and Scholarships at this year's Canada-Wide Science Fair in Saguenay Quebec
This year's Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) was a huge success for B.C.'s 53 participants, who took home 1 platinum, 3 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze, 6 honorable mentions and 10 special awards, as well as $54,200 in awards and scholarships at this year’s Canada-Wide Science Fair, held in Saguenay, Quebec, May 13-21, 2006. The students participated in a variety of categories: automotive, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences, computing and information technology, earth and environmental sciences, engineering, health sciences, life sciences and physical & mathematical sciences.
Click here to read more about the winners.
The Song Tappers... Tap That Tune!
Whoever thought that the simple task oftapping your computer keyboard tothe rhythm of a song could help you name that tune stuck in your head? After a brainstorming session of what to do for the final project in their Artificial Intelligence class, Geoff Peters and two fellow SFU Computing Science students created the Song Tapper, which does exactly that.
Click here to read more.
Lindsay Babineau Gives SIM an inside look at B.C.'s Agricultural Industry.
With over 30 years of experience in teaching and now as the Executive Director of BC Agriculture in the Classroom, Lindsay Babineau has made it her career long mission to bring science and agriculture to the forefront. Read on further to find out how Lindsay has fulfilled her goals and how you too can get involved with her mission.
Click here to read Lindsay's interview.
Magic tricks you can do at school!Chemical Reaction Magic Show
By Erica Hargreave
Courtesy of Ahimsa Media Incorporated
Magic is a hot topic with kids these days and it isfun. Using the idea of magic in your classroom is a great way to challenge your students to figure out your tricks and hence the science behind magic. You can start this off with a little bit of a history lesson and ask the students who the original magicians and sorcerers were. They were Alchemists – the original chemists. And their potions, simply chemicals. They appeared “magical” by understanding the scientific side of matter that baffled many of their peers. At this point, you can toss on a cape and magician’s hat and set the students to the challenge of determining the science behind your “magic tricks”. This can be a good introduction or conclusion to a particular chemistry topic.
Click here to learn how to put on a chemical reaction magic show from Ahimsa Media Incorporated.
Fun events for the whole family!
June 3, 2006 - Vancouver Landfill Open House
Vancouver Landfill is having its 6th Annual Open House between 9:30am-3pm. Uncover the mystery of what happens to your garbage! Jump on a half-hour bus tour to peek behind the scenes. Exploregardens demonstrating Naturescaping. Learn about the Landfill's environmental protection system. Discover how landfill gas generates electricity and heat. Hop in actual Landfill equipment. Check out educational displays on waste reduction, recycling, Burns Bog and more. Watch the bird control hawks in action, Enjoy free hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks. Take home a free bag of compost. Kid's activities include crafts, plant potting, a giant sandbox, balloon twisting, face painting and musical entertainment.
For more information contact: Vancouver Landfill, 5400 72nd Street, Delta; 604-326-4600.
Vancouver Aquarium's Party in the Park:
Sunday June 18, 2006, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
What better way to celebrate the Vancouver Aquarium's 50th birthday thanwith a Party in the Park, including a parade with special guests SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star and the Aquarium’s own Bee Bop Beluga?
Join us before the parade at 9:30 a.m. for free coffee, juice and a hat-making activity at the salmon stream plaza, or come dressed as your favourite aquatic animal and walk along the parade route with us at 11 a.m. After the parade, don’t miss out on a whale of a cake, prizes for the best costumes, giveaways and performances by Bobs & Lolo and the Sea Notes Band. Presented by The Vancouver Sun, The Province and Global TV.
Click here for a map to the salmon stream plaza.
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre's "OUR VANISHING SKY"
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre presents OUR VANISHING SKY. By simple definition, light pollution is light that is not needed or wanted, including lighting that is too bright. Through educational text display panels, looped video presentations, interactive activities and a Planetarium show demonstrating the before-and-after impact of night light pollution on major cities around the globe, Our Vanishing Sky educates visitors about the disturbingly negative effects of light pollution on their lives and what they can do about it.
For more information contact 604-738-STAR, or go to www.spacecentre.ca
We are interested in receiving your contributions and ideas for items you'd like to hear about and/or share with BC's science and technology community. Please contact our editor, Angela Kietaibl at Angela_Kietaibl@pmc-sierra.com with your news and views.
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Science in Motion is published bi-monthly
© Copyright Science Fair FoundationBC 2006