Local students to compete against Canada’s best at national science fair
By Greg McNeil
Cape Breton Post
Thur., May 10, 2007
SYDNEY - Bet you didn’t know there
were fish living in the tar ponds, or
that an innovative device has been
developed at the local level to shorten
recovery time from a broken leg.
What may be most surprising to
learn is these are projects developed
by students for their science fair.
The findings are the work of Mike
MacIsaac, Todd Mercer and Sheralynne
Deveaux, who will show their
projects to a national audience at the
Canada Wide Science Fair beginning
Saturday in Truro.
A fourth local entrant, Erin
McKenna, will present some interesting
findings on children’s television
programming.
The four earned the right to compete
against more than 450 students
at the national fair by grabbing top
honours at the Cape Breton Regional
Science Fair in March.
"It is a great experience for anyone
interested in science," said
Deveaux, a Grade 12 student at
Riverview Rural High School in Coxheath,
whose project compared fish
living in the tar ponds to those swimming
in River Ryan.
"I’ve learned a lot of skills through
it — everything from dedication to
working hard and persistence. There
is quite a lot to be learned socially
and academically."
Mercer and MacIsaac, Grade 10
students at Riverview, invented a leg
brace.
"It relieves pressure from your
feet, so if you break one of the bones
in your lower leg and need to use
crutches this will shorten the
amount of time you have to use
crutches," said Mercer.
McKenna, a Grade 9 student at
Malcolm Munroe Junior High, studied
the educational values of children’s
programming. Her comprehensive
evaluation system gave top
marks to Dora The Explorer and
Sesame Street.
Fairs were brought back to the
local area in 2004 by teacher True
Burke. She said the competition
helps students learn many skills
including those needed for university.
"They need good presentation
skills, you need to learn to be more
confident because you have to present
your project to judges and science
people. It is a good opportunity."
Burke said the four heading to the
national competition will meet new
friends, be exposed to cultural activities
and have the opportunity to win
large scholarships.
gmcneil@cbpost.com
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