The York Region Science & Technology Fair (YRSTF) will return to York University’s Keele campus for the second year on March 31 and April 1 to showcase the research of budding scientists.
York Region high school students from Grades 7 to 12 will participate in the event, and display their work in one of six categories: Biotechnology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Computer Sciences, Health Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical and Mathematical Science. Projects can be experiments, innovations or studies.
The event is a collaborative partnership between York University and the York Region Science and Technology Fair Organizing Committee. Other large sponsors include the York Region District School Board, the York Catholic District School board.
Participation in the fair is open to all students currently attending a York Region public, catholic, or private school; who are homeschooled; or who reside in York Region. The top projects selected from the York Region Science and Technology Fair are invited to represent York Region and compete at the Canada-Wide Science Fair.
Rebecca Pillai Riddell, York University professor and York Research Chair in Pain and Mental Health, was instrumental in bringing the fair to campus last year. She leads a York University committee that has members from the Faculties of Science, Health, Environmental Studies, Education, the Lassonde School of Engineering, the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, Glendon College and the Offices of the Vice-President Academic & Provost, the Vice-President Research & Innovation, and the Vice-Provost Students.
“Supporting York Region’s preeminent science fair is an excellent opportunity for York University to support youth in science from a region that went from being our neighbor to being our home,” said Pillai Riddell.
Last year, YRSTF enabled York Region to send, for the first time in its history, the full complement of junior scientists to Montreal for Canada-Wide Science Fair. Pillai Riddell notes that the national fair was won (BEST IN FAIR) by one of the YRSTF participants, Kayley Ting (https://cwsf.youthscience.ca/news/top-prizes-awarded-canada-wide-science-fair-0), who went on to earn a silver medal in Europe.
Pillai Riddell said in addition to encouraging students to enter, organizers are also seeking York community members with a background (honours degree, graduate, or PhD) in biotechnology, earth and environmental sciences, engineering and computer sciences, health sciences, life sciences, and physical and mathematical sciences to consider being a judge.
All details about registration as a judge or student are available at http://yrstf.info.yorku.ca.
During the fair, students will display their own work and participate in a series of activities designed and guided by the York University faculty, graduate and undergraduate student volunteers. Faculty from the University in partnership with representatives from the school boards will select the top 11 students who will go on to represent York Region at the Canada-Wide Science Fair.
YRSTF will begin on March 31 with a community event to kick off the fair, and on April 1 will include other activities such as a Science Immersion Adventures with York U scientists, and Science Teacher Lunch and Learn events. York Community members and their families are invited to come visit the fair during the afternoon of April 1.
For more information, visit the York Region Science & Technology Fair website or Facebook page.
CTV News reported on the 2016 York Region Science & Technology Fair and a news clip on the fair can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2kkkUfv.