Great innovations on the horizon: 61 students awarded for their entrepreneurial and business potential
The regional science fairs (expo-sciences), numbering 21, took place this year in the form of a single virtual exhibition from April 19 to 21. A total of 61 students from across Canada were awarded for submitting an innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) project with real commercial potential. Among the winners was Karianne Romain, a Secondary 5 student from the Collège Saint-Alexandre in Gatineau, who won first prize at the Outaouais Science Fair with her project entitled "Organes sur commande" (Organs made to order). In addition to receiving recognition, each of these students was given $100 and other prizes as part of the Ted Rogers Awards for Innovation program, an initiative of Youth Science Canada, thanks to the support of Ted Rogers Community Grants.
“We’re extremely proud of these students, who come from all corners of our country and are united by a goal of making the world a better place for all,” said Reni Barlow, executive director of Youth Science Canada. “Thanks to partners like Rogers, we are able to engage more and more aspiring young innovators as they lead the path to a better tomorrow through STEM.”
Regional youth science fairs began more than sixty years ago and the Ted Rogers Innovation Award was added to programming in 2018 to recognize Canadian students who express an entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrate commercial potential for their project. The award is part of an ongoing national partnership between Youth Science Canada and Rogers that has included, to date, more than $150,000 spread across fairs and national projects that encourage STEM among Canadian youth of all backgrounds. Award winners are also eligible to receive enrolment tuition in the week-long Youth Science Canada/York University STEM bootcamp, held annually in August through the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology (BEST) program. The bootcamp is a unique opportunity for students to learn and apply best practices in entrepreneurship to turn their projects into a viable business.
The Canada-Wide Science Fair "Ottawa 2021", Youth Science Canada's flagship event, was held virtually from May 17 to 21. Featuring all the regional science fair finalists, it is the largest annual STEM event for youth.
Largely organized by dedicated volunteers, Canada’s more than 105 regional fairs collectively engage more than 25,000 youth, grades 7 to 12, across the country every year. Each regional fair also receives $100 to go towards the development of STEM initiatives in the region.
To learn more about Youth Science Canada, visit youthscience.ca/. To learn more about Ted Rogers Community Grants, visit about.rogers.com/giving-back/ted-rogers-community-grants/.
