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Science Fair Foundation BC
2019 Program Report
This report highlights the activities of the Science Fair Foundation BC for the 2018 - 2019 school year.

#BCTECHSummit

On March 12th the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia invited five youth to the mainstage of the #BCTECHSummit to pitch their innovative solutions to a panel of judges while competing for a top prize of $5,000. Judges for the competition included trail blazing women from BC's technology sector: Manjit Minhas from Dragons' Den; Nyla Ahmad, Sr. VP, Enterprise Marketing at Rogers; Dr. Joy Johnson, VP, Research and International at Simon Fraser University and Beth Bell, VP, Enterprise & Commercial at IBM.

The 5 youth began their day with interviews with Breakfast Television followed by presentations of their projects in the #BCTECHSummit Marketplace where they connected with technology industry leaders. After the competition, the youth were interviewed by CityTV and Rogers. We have prepared a short highlights video of the days' events below.
The judges had the opportunity, with a 3 minute Q&A, to delve into the young entrepreneurs' Reality Revolution Solutions which ranged from redesigned medical equipment to redefining 3D printing as we know it. The five young thought leaders include:
  • Ray Liu, age 19, with his project Solvent Polymer Deposition 3D Printing: Cost Effective Composite Rapid Prototyping with Sustainability in Mind. 
  • Aaliyah Mahboubi, age 15, with her project Microbial Film Power Generation; Harnessing Power from the Decomposition in Bogs.
  • Mac Dykeman, age 13, with her project Safer Chick-Ments: An Innovative Solution to Reducing Stress in Chick Shipments. 
  • Natasha Burgert, age 17, with her project 100% Solar Vehicle: High Efficiency Solar Modules in Sustainable Transport. 
  • Nicolas Fedrigo, age 17, with his project Improving Spinal Fusions: Redesigned the Pedicle Probe to Prevent Spinal Breaches. 
The winner of the event, Mr. Ray Liu received the top prize of $5,000 sponsored by IBM, while all four runner-up participants received $1,000 each which was sponsored by Rogers. 

More Information 
Every year thousands of students across British Columbia and the Yukon spend months preparing their innovations and ground breaking research projects to present at one of the 13 Regional Science Fairs across BC and the Yukon. The Regional Science Fairs are made possible by dedicated committee members and a volunteer network of community members, Science Fair alumni, teachers, parents, professors and experts. The Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia supports Science Fair activity across BC and Yukon, ensuring students have the skills to succeed in the fast paced future of science and technology. 

Committee members, volunteers and judges work tirelessly to ensure that Science Fairs in their areas to provide student engagement and recognition of excellence. Involvement from the community, local organizations and sponsors, provides each fair with the opportunity to support the participating students and teachers across the regions of British Columbia and the Yukon.
 
Science Fairs provide an opportunity for students to showcase their projects to their community, while engaging in friendly competition for awards, scholarships and the opportunity to represent their region at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Science Fairs support students creating original scientific research, and aid in developing critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills. 

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Provincial Awards

The British Columbia Provincial Awards Program is available to all participants of the British Columbia and Yukon Regional Science Fairs. These awards are generously sponsored by organizations across BC and the Yukon, to support and reward students for their work and exploration in science and technology. 

The Provincial Awards Program hopes to inspire and assist students with their innovation and research projects by rewarding students for their exceptional work in a wide range of science and technology disciplines. 

Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting Science Fair Activity across BC and the Yukon and helping to ensure that students have the skills to succeed in science and technology. 

2019 Provincial Award Recipients 
 
“It’s not what you win, but what you can become.”
 
70 students from 13 Regional Science Fairs from across British Columbia and the Yukon participated in the 58th Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The Canada-Wide Science Fair brings together students from across Canada for one week of competition, activities, interactive science exhibits, talent shows and tours around the hosting city and surrounding areas. This year there were 465 participating students from 103 regions across the country to compete for $1 million in prizes, awards and scholarships. This week-long event provides a once in a life-time opportunity for students to engage in a cross cultural exchange, sharing passions with their fellow science peers, engaging in rewarding competition and building lifelong friendships.
 
This week at the Canada-Wide Science Fair saw students participate, support and connect with each other from project set up, through judging, public viewing, and the final award ceremony. This national event is focused on building experiences for the students they can take home to encourage and inspire them. By the end of their time at the fair the students had learned other regions chants, dances and games while trading science and technology interests and discoveries.  
 
Over 7000 students from around New Brunswick came through the viewing hall to interact with the finalists and their award-winning research and innovations.  

Wei, one of the first time participants from Greater Vancouver said when asked to reflect on favorite moments or highlights from the week at the 2019 Canada-Wide Science Fair, “There is too many to pick just one.”

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Taiwan International Science Fair

Since 1992, the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia has been invited to send two students and an educator from BC and the Yukon to compete with their Science Fair project as Team Canada at the Taiwan International Science Fair. This international fair brings together 40 overseas students in grades nine to twelve to participate in this week long cross cultural competition. This year, Grade 12 student from Victoria, BC Nicolas Fedrigo, and Grade 12 student from White Rock, BC Natasha Burgert, were selected to represent BC and Canada at the Taiwan International Science Fair. 

Ms. Burgert designed, built and tested a solar powered bike to operate continuously during sunny, daylight hours. Ms. Burgert’s project The Solar EV: Applying High Efficiency Solar Modules in Sustainable Transport, received third place in the Environmental Engineering category. 

Mr. Fedrigo redesigned the medical probe used in spinal fusion surgery. His project Spinal Fusions: Redesigning the Pedicle Probe to Prevent Vertebral Breaches had won the Platinum Senior Award at the 2018 Canada-Wide Science Fair, and First Prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists. Mr. Fedrigo’s project received a Gold medal for a senior Engineering project. 

2019 marked the fifth consecutive year that both members of Team BC have returned from the Taiwan International Science Fair with medals. The opportunity to participate in this international science fair is a once in a lifetime experience for science students to engage with their fellow international peers while exploring an exciting area of the world very different from their home. 

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The 20th Anniversary of the STEMCELL Science Fair Fun Run, took place on May 26th in Athletes Village Plaza in Vancouver, BC. This year STEMCELL Technologies joined the Science Fair Foundation of BC as the title sponsor. The STEMCELL Technologies community and team jumped headfirst into the event and helped make it a great success.  

The STEMCELL Science Fair Fun Run is a family oriented event and one of the largest events in BC’s technology sector and the largest fundraiser for the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia. Over the past 20 years the run has raised over $1 million for The Dr. Michael Smith Science Fair Endowment in support of Science Fair programs throughout BC and the Yukon. 

The 2019 STEMCELL Science Fair Fun Run drew 1,039 participants and 40 teams who took the 5K morning run, or 1K Mini Run in support of Science Fairs across BC and the Yukon. They were joined and supported by volunteers who came in from across the lower mainland who cheered on the participants while keeping the site activities running smoothly. This year, the many returning organizations, corporations and schools who have participated annually for the last 20 years, were joined by several new organizations helping to give young scientists a running start. With a jazz band on the mainstage, an Acapella group and pipe band on the route, and a mainstage science show hosted by Science World it was a fun filled day of celebration for the science and technology community.    

Thank you to all of the generous sponsors and volunteers who helped make this 20th Anniversary STEMCELL Science Fair Fun Run a great success!

Thank You!

Thanks to you, our sponsors and supporters. The Science Fair Foundation of BC continues to maintain the largest volunteer science and technology outreach network in British Columbia. These dedicated volunteers and educators continue to inspire youth to connect with the fascinating and ever changing world of science and technology. We thank you on behalf of the students across British Columbia and the Yukon, for your continued support. 
Our sponsors who make it all possible