Budding Einsteins scattered across the Westlock Community Hall Wednesday afternoon to compete in the 43rd annual Westlock Local Science Fair.
Participants from six different schools presented their projects which included bubbling volcanoes and moving toilet seats. Judges ranked each project based on scientific category and grade level.
“This year we had 91 projects involving 149 participants with students coming from Fawcett, Dapp, Busby, Clyde, and Westlock Elementary,” said long-time organizer Sue Chapotelle.
Students at the fair were also automatically entered in nine special award categories that are handed out yearly. These include: medical, agriculture, chemistry, environment, water purity, energy conservation, magnetism, floral conservation and solar.
“I particularly heard a couple of judges talking about a project done by Evan Felstad from Dapp School and it was on ‘mouth germs.’ It won first in its category and he also won the medical sciences award,” she said.
Factors considered in choosing a winner often include more than just the finished product, Chapotelle explained.
“It is also judged on how well the student has carried out the scientific process of coming up with a problem and using the scientific process to come to a conclusion to answer their problem,” she said.
Winners were given individual plaques at the award ceremony held the same day with certificates handed out to individuals who received honourable mention.
“The winning projects receive plaques and these are individual plaques that the students get to take home. There are no cash prizes at Westlock,” Chapotelle said.
She added that students who participate at the fair each year often find that the process of finishing their projects teaches them life skills as well.
“One of the things about doing science projects is the fact that it’s not only teaches students about science but it gives them a coping mechanism to solve problems in life. It teaches them organization and public speaking,” she said.
All the first, second and third place winners and all special award winners are now eligible to submit their projects to the Edmonton Regional Science Fair held April 14-15 at NAIT in Edmonton.
