Fraser Valley schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12 had the opportunity to showcase their best science fair projects at the Fraser Valley Regional Science Fair held at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) on Thursday, April 11. Students from Langley, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack and Hope participated either as a class, group or individual. A total of 116 projects were presented to the public and judges, with a chance to win money and prizes. Students in grades 7-12 also had the opportunity to be selected to represent Team BC at the all-expenses-paid Canada-wide Science Fair in Ottawa.
One eager participant, Class 5 student Avneet Singh Sandhu of Dasmesh Punjabi School, expressed her excitement for the event, saying she was looking forward to it. Sandhu’s project focused on plant photosynthesis, while other topics ranged from global warming to mental health and even 3-D printers. The selection process at Dasmesh Punjabi School involved a class round where the top five projects from each class were selected and then narrowed down to three finalists who presented at the regional fair.
For Grade 4 student Gurnihal Singh Bains, making it to the first round was a pleasant surprise. The event aims to inspire a love of science and fuel imagination, which was clearly evident in Grade 8 students Japandeep Gill and Metaab Khangura. Khangura’s project, inspired by a missed flight at Vancouver International Airport, involved creating a vehicle sensor to help drivers find parking spaces more easily. Gill and Khangura were excited about their project and expressed their desire to progress to a national level.
The young scientists, including Gill and Khangura, are eagerly awaiting the awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 17, to find out how they fared in the competition. Overall, the Fraser Valley Regional Science Fair provided a platform for students to showcase their innovative ideas and passion for science, with the opportunity to potentially represent Team BC at a national competition.
