Science Fair numbers down, entry quality up

At 82, the number of entries at this year's Mountain View Science and Technology Fair (MVSTF) was down about 15 from last year, but the quality of entries was up, according to Mountain View Science and Technology Society president Ruth Roedler.

The annual fair was held Feb. 27 at Olds High School. Projects were entered by students from Olds, Didsbury, Sundre, Carstairs and Cremona.

Roedler is not sure why the number of entries was down, but she has a theory.

“In some cases, I think some kids had to make choices as to what they do. There were sports going on, so some of them chose the sports instead of the science fair. I can understand that too because they made a commitment to their team,” she says.

“Some people did try to do both. We try to accommodate as much as we can.”

Roedler is also unsure why the quality of projects submitted was up.

“I really don't know, unless it was that the teachers -- or in some cases the parents -- took a little more care,” she says.

“Maybe sometimes the kids are more interested in a certain topic than another and they can really go. Or else, some are just getting used to doing it.”

Following are MVSTF results for Olds students. All the medal winners in grades 5 to 10 are eligible to compete in the Central Alberta Regional Science Fair in Red Deer March 11-12.

KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 2

Best of Fair and Gold Medal

Katey van den Bosch and Myah Eliuk – Grade 2 – Olds Elementary School – Do horses prefer one treat over another?

First Runner-up and Gold Medal

Abby Hallett and Spencer Clifford - Grade 2 – Olds Elementary School – Hot or not?

Silver Medals

Gage Mirus – Grade 1 – Olds Elementary School – Jumping Raisins

Ruby Kay – Grade 2 – Olds Elementary School – Will it freeze?

Bronze Medals

Anna Giesbrecht and Stella Brown – Grade 2 Olds Elementary School – Which cup will keep my hot chocolate hottest?

Mya Latimer and Megan Machan – Grade 2 – Olds Elementary School – Ocean Zones

Ashlyn Kelly – Grade 1 – Olds Elementary School – How to make a lava lamp

Talia Challoner – Grade 1 – Olds Elementary School – Sick it, don't lick it!

GRADES 3 & 4

Best of Fair and Gold Medal

Sarah Hoppins – Grade 4 – Olds Elementary School – CO2…See Oh Too

First Runner-up and Gold Medal

Claire Andrew and Felicity Clifford – Grade 4 – Olds Elementary School – The Big Bounce

Bronze Medals

Hannah Turnbull and Alix Latimer – Grade 4 – Olds Elementary School – Popping Kernels

Sydney Grover and Masen Grover – Grade 4 – Olds Elementary School – Dissolving Eggs

GRADES 5 & 6

Best of Fair and Gold Medal

Anna Moffat – Grade 5 – Deer Meadow School – Heart Beats

First Runner-up and Gold Medal

Drexel Brown – Grade 6 – Deer Meadow School – Airborn Chemicals and Metals

Silver Medals

Jade Epp – Grade 5 – Deer Meadow School – How to make an ecosystem

Bronze Medals

Kiara Longmuir – Grade 5 – Deer Meadow School – Raw vs cooked

Ashley Hoppins – Grade 5 – Deer Meadow School – Acids and Bases

Madison Syvret – Grade 6 – Deer Meadow School – Which ingredient extracts the most DNA?

Madison Hynes-Anthony and Ella Challoner – Grade 6 – Deer Meadow School – Spit vs Water

GRADES 7 TO 9

First Runner-up and Silver Medal

Emma Hoppins – Grade 9 – Olds High School – Bacteria Battle

Bronze Medals

Rhea Mirus and Nalyssa Mirus – Grade 8 – Deer Meadow School – Vitamin C

David Hoppins – Grade 8 – Deer Meadow School – Electromagnetic Charge

GRADE 10

Best of Fair and Gold Medal

Nicole Green – Grade 10 – Olds High School – Gender Imbalance: Stereotyping in STEM

First Runner-up and Silver Medal

Ryan Walker-Melton and Rachel Land – Grade 10 – Olds High School – Memory Retention: The Power of Senses

SPECIAL AWARDS

Humanities

Cayris Holloway and Grade Van Orman – Grade 2 – Olds Elementary School – Taste Perception

Chemistry

Tess Parker and Aida Hingst – Grade 3 – Olds Elementary School – Does hand washing kill germs?

Fair results were provided by the Mountain View Science and Technology Society.

[email protected]