BGS student going to national science fair

A student from Bowden Grandview School is among a list of five Chinook's Edge School Division students that will be going on to participate in the Canada-Wide Science Fair to be held in Charlottetown, P.E.I. from May 12 to 19.

Lakeisha Robertson, a Grade 10 student, earned a silver medal at the Central Alberta Regional Science Fair in Red Deer on March 30 and 31 for her project, “Go Green or Grow Green.”

“I'm excited to go (to the national fair) and I think it will be a fun experience because I've never been to Prince Edward Island so it will be fun and I'll get to meet lots of new people,” she said.

Robertson said not only is she excited to be going to the national fair, but knowing that she is setting a precedent for BGS students is also great.

This was Robertson's third time to the Central Alberta Regional Science Fair.

Robertson's project tested whether bacteria were present in reusable fabric shopping bags and found that several types of bacteria and mould from food grew on the bags. She also found that washing the bags did not remove all the bacteria that was present.

Brett Caukill, principal of BGS, said having Robertson go to the national fair raises the profile of the school.

“We're focusing on advancing all our programs. For Lakeisha to make it that far is great. This is fabulous for us and great for Lakeisha as well,” he said, noting that having her go to the national fair should spark some excitement about science among the younger students in the school.

“It raises that awareness. This type of thing can only advance the program. She now becomes an ambassador for the school,” he said.

Ruth Roedler, leader of the Central Alberta Science Fair, said thinking in innovative terms is what sets all the students who will be going on to the Canada-wide Science Fair apart from other students.

“I think a lot of them think outside the box. They don't just duplicate an experiment somebody else has done. I think that's what you have to do is something different,” she said.

Roedler said Collin Fair and Tim Carleille, in particular, have proven over the years that they think in innovative terms and have excelled in science. Both have entered science fairs since Grade 1 – Carlielle missed Grade 2 – but have gone to the national fair since Grade 7. Both are graduating this year from Olds High School.

“It's really fantastic that they have done this,” Roedler said.

Fair's project earned best of fair. It was entitled “Keyboardless text entry.” Carleille's project, “The Ski-Breeze – a ski innovation” earned a silver medal at the regional fair.

Other Olds participants moving on to the national fair include Grade 8 Deer Meadow School students Claire Bertens and Brooklyn McDonald for their project entitled “Crush that Thrush.”