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New Brunswick’s team for the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) will soon be determined, as the province’s Regional Science Fairs get underway in April. Eleven students from the Fundy, River Valley and districts francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick Regional Science Fairs will be chosen to represent their province at the national level. The national competition is even more significant for New Brunswick students this year, as it will be held in Fredericton – marking the first time it has ever been held in the province.

Contributions from three levels of government were announced at a launch event at the University of New Brunswick Fredericton campus this morning.  The New Brunswick government has committed $130-thousand towards CWSF; the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has committed $100-thousand, while the City of Fredericton has contributed $40-thousand, with an additional $9-thousand through Fredericton Tourism. The Canada-Wide Science Fair is expected to inject an estimated 2.5-million dollars into the New Brunswick economy.

“We want to wish all New Brunswick students the best as they head into the Regional Science Fairs,” says Premier Brian Gallant. “We hope this will be the first steps on your paths to becoming our province’s future innovators and leaders.”

The Canada-Wide Science Fair will see 500 students, grades 7-12, with the best projects in the country, competing for close to $1-million in awards, scholarships and prizes. The students, along with parents, teachers, judges and volunteers, will spend a week in New Brunswick experiencing local culture and sharing their knowledge with New Brunswick students.

The CWSF Host committee made several announcements at Wednesday’s event, including:

• UNB Scholarships: A UNB entrance scholarship of $5,000 is being offered to each gold medal winning senior finalist. A UNB entrance scholarship of $2,500 will also be offered to each silver medal winning senior finalist. (The recipients must be beginning a UNB undergraduate degree program full-time in the Fall 2015 or Fall 2016).
• Science at Work: a unique event, showcasing the science, technology, engineering and math on the job in New Brunswick. Finalists, New Brunswick students, and the public will experience hands-on, interactive displays that show the tools, equipment and skills used by professionals around the province. Science At Work takes place Thursday, May 14 from 1-8 p.m., and Friday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• CWSF 2015 Ambassadors: Six alumni from previous competitions, including three now attending university in New Brunswick, will be working as ambassadors during CWSF 2015. Dimalka Ranasinghe, a 2013 member of Team New Brunswick, is currently a student at UNB Fredericton. Farouk Selouani was part of Team New Brunswick from 2009 to 2013, and is currently studying at l’Université de Moncton. Kyle Lefort was part of Team Nova Scotia in 2010, 2012, and 2013 and is currently a student at UNB Saint John.

Meanwhile, co-chair Michelle McNeil says while the organizing team is making excellent progress on recruiting judges and volunteers to help out during the fair, more are needed.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to support science and technology education in New Brunswick, and to inspire our students to strive for the best,” McNeil says. “I encourage everyone who can help with the success of this event to do so.” 

Those who are interested in judging or volunteering at the fair are asked to email cwsf2015@unb.ca.

The Fundy Regional Science Fair will take place on Friday, April 10 in Saint John; the River Valley Regional Science Fair will take place in Fredericton on April 17. L’expo-sciences francophone du Nouveau-Brunswick also takes place on April 17, in Edmundston.

The Canada-Wide Science Fair runs from May 11-16 in Fredericton, and is being hosted by Youth Science Canada, the University of New Brunswick and Science East.

For more information, or to book an interview, please contact: