Edmonton hosts Canada-Wide Science Fair

Grade 7 to 12 students from across the country are competing in a science fair at the Expo Centre this week.

The nation’s best and brightest teenagers gathered at the Edmonton Expo this week for the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF).

Hundreds of students Grades 7 through 12 from across the country were judged by experts in STEM for awards in nine categories including aerospace, agriculture, fisheries and food, climate change and environment.

One Grade 10 student who travelled from Ontario had a project that focused on microplastic detection in bodies of water which recently won an award at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, AZ.

“It uses holographic imaging to capture a number of 3D images of the microplastics that exist in the water itself,” said Evan Budz. “Then these images are analyzed by a custom algorithm and AI detection architecture.”

CWSF’s executive director said the students bring a fresh lens to science.

“These students are not limited by ‘we’ve done this all before,’ or whatever,” said Reni Barlow. “They don’t have those filters, they look at it with very fresh eyes and often bring really novel insights.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum