Science fair celebrates 50 years of curiosity
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2019 (2489 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
You might see a few spouting volcanoes, but there’s bound to be so much more at the 50th Western Manitoba Science Fair on Tuesday.
The scope of the science projects have changed “dramatically” over the years, said Pat Bowslaugh, a longtime science fair committee member.
“They (students) keep pace with more of the current jargon that has to do with science,” said Bowslaugh a former Brandon School Division trustee who taught for 39 years.
At one time, she said, you would find kids talking about their pets and see “dozens of volcanoes” at the fair.
“Simplistic little exercises that they could bring and display,” she said. “And now, the topics are very, very deep and very research-based and very advanced.”
This year’s science fair will feature a special guest at the two award ceremonies, Bowslaugh said.
Dr. Peter Letkeman, a former dean of science at Brandon University, was part of the team that set the Brandon science fair in motion. The science fair later expanded to include western Manitoba as part of a regional science fair.
Showcasing projects from about 500 grades 1 through 12 students throughout the Westman region, the science fair will be held at Brandon University’s Healthy Living Centre.
It is open to the public from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. There is no cost.
Science fair finalists will go on to the Canada-Wide Science Fair next month in Fredericton, N.B.
“It’s a window of opportunity for students who have an interest in science or who are developing an interest in science because of their exposure to taking a topic that’s of interest to them and running with it,” Bowslaugh said.
The science fair, which started with 200 entries, at one point had as many as 673 entries. If you average it out, that means as many as 20,000 students have shown their projects over the last 50 years, Bowslaugh said.
Where once male students far outnumbered females, that has seen a turnaround, Bowslaugh added.
“For a long time, girls only thought that they could be teachers or nurses or secretaries.”
The students will be taken on group tours of the science facilities at the university.
“Many of our students have become spectacular citizens of Canada,” Bowslaugh said.
Having experienced a science fair and all that goes with preparing and presenting their entries “gives them licence to just go forth with confidence,” she said.
The award ceremonies will be livestreamed on the science fair’s Facebook page at facebook.com/WesternManitobaScienceFair/. The grades 1 through 4 award ceremony starts at 4:30 p.m. while grades 5-12 starts at 6:30 p.m.
» brobertson@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @BudRobertson4