2016 York Region District School Board/York Region Science & Technology Fair Award Winners

On Saturday, April 2, 2016, 150 students from 37 schools from around York Region participated in the York Region Science and Technology Fair.   YRSTF is pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 fair and the Canada Wide Science Fair finalists who will be representing York Region May 15-20th in Montreal, Quebec 2016 Gold Medal Winners and Canada Wide Science Fair Finalists:

  • Kamron Zaidi and Austin Wu, Richmond Hill High School, YRDSB - Fogponics: The Future of Food (YRSTF travel award)
  • Rohan Batchu and Anthony Louie, Boxwood Public School, YRDSB - An Innovation For Efficient CO2 Reduction (YRSTF travel award, The Environment Award)
  • Katelyn Wang, Richmond Hill High School, YRDSB - Landfill reduction by recycling polyethylene for third world use (York University School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design travel award)
  • Justin Tang, St. Therese de Liseiux, YCDSB - Hand Function Recovery Device (York University travel award)
  • Danielle D'Souza, Justin Martyr, YCDSB - Project LEAP (York University Faculty of Environmental Studies travel award, Vernadsky Award)
  • Muhammad Yaseen Abbas, As-Sadiq Islamic School - Put Breaks On Neoplasia (York University travel award, Cournoyea/Paz-Soldan Peer Award)
  • Ariz Babul, Richmond Hill Montessori and Private School - A Little Pep In Your Strep! (York University Faculty of Sciences travel award)
  • Anmol Tukrel, Holy Trinity School - Using Computer Vision to Help Visually Impaired Individuals Identity Everyday Objects and Read Text (York University Lassonde School of Engineering travel award, York University Admission Scholarship for Top Project)
  • Kayley Ting, PACE - Biofeedback: A Window into the World of Hypersensitivity (York University Faculty of Health Sciences travel award)

York University Admission Scholarship awarded to the top senior project in the fair: Anmol Tukrel, Holy Trinity School - Using Computer Vision to Help Visually Impaired Individuals Identity Everyday Objects and Read Text

University of Ottawa Admission Scholarship awarded to a top Senior project to encourage the winner(s) to pursue university studies in health, sciences or technology: Aisha Parven, Notre Dame High School, TCDSB - Combining Gold Nanoparticles to Inhibit Breast Cancer Growth

Special Awards:

The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Award is awarded to the best Earth and Environmental Sciences project that deals with:  water quality/quantity or erosion, sediment control, forestry or fish and wildlife: Patrick Ang, St. Justin Martyr, YCDSB - Algae Biofuel

YRSTF Chemistry Award is awarded to an outstanding project related to chemistry: Cheryl Cheung, Hawk Yang, Markville Secondary School, YRDSB - Water you gonna do with that Lead?

 YRSTF Biology Award is awarded to an outstanding project related to Health Sciences/ Life Sciences/ Biotechnology: Ahmad Ibrahim, As-Sadiq Islamic School - The Effect of Dandelion Root on Longevity of C.Elegans

YRSTF Physics and Engineering Award is awarded to an outstanding project related to physics/ engineering/ mathematics/ computer science:  Mariam  Iordachescu, Cassandra Lee, Julliard Public School, YRDSB - Le Casque Ultra-Magnetique

 YRSTF Communication and Presentation Award is awarded to a project with an outstanding oral presentation and display board: Ryan Dick, St. Justin Martyr, YCDSB - Testing the Strength of Metals under Pressure

Newmakeit Innovation Awards are awarded to a junior and senior project that display outstanding innovation:

  • Junior Newmakeit award: Sydney Jacobs, Kevin Wang, Julliard Public School, YRDSB - Est-ce que les bateaux peuvent etre alimente par l’energie renouvelable?
  • Senior Newmakeit award: Reynold Chan, St. Robert Catholic High School, YCDSB - Displaying Quantum Tunneling with Microwaves

The Environment Award sponsored by the EnviroAnalysis Conference is awarded to a project judged to be the Best-in-Fair in the field of environmental science: Rohan Batchu, Anthony Louie, Boxwood Public School, YRDSB - An Innovation for Efficient CO2 Reduction

The Vernadsky Award is awarded to a project that that reflects ideas that best support sustainable development in honour of Vladimir Ivan Vernadsky whose works have contributed to geology, geography, geosphere, biosphere and noosphere: Danielle D'Souza, St. Justin Martyr, YCDSB - Project LEAP

 The Cournoyea/Paz-Soldan Peer Award is awarded to the ‘best project’ as selected by their peers: Christina McCabe, Markham District High School, YRDSB - Not your garden variety type of wormhole Muhammad Yaseen Abbas, As-Sadiq Islamic School- Put Breaks On Neoplasia.

Silver Medal Award Winners:
Christina McCabe, Markham District High School - Not your garden variety type of wormhole (Cournoyea/Paz-Soldan Peer Award)
Sandro Galati, St. Mary, YCDSB How does the type of flour used in a cupcake affect the density of the cupcake?
Keerthana Pagidela, Wismer Public School, YRDSB - Child Tracker
Ahmed Nadeem, Baythorn Public School, YRDSB - Homemade 2-D microscope
Reynold Chan, St. Roberts Catholic High School, YCDSB - Displaying Quantum Tunneling with Microwaves (Newmakeit Innovation Award)
Suzanne Li, Alicia Bruno, Bayview Hill Elementary School, YRDSB - Beauti-Phi
Martine Falzone, Sofia Bauco, St. Mary, YCDSB - What is the Best Way to Disinfect a Used Toothbrush?
Alexander He, St. Robert Catholic High School, YCDSB - Potential Treatment of Atherosclerosis with NADH/NAD+
Alexandra Puchiele, St. Mary, YCDSB - How do airflow and temperature of a hair dryer affect the production of electromagnetic waves?
Daphne Jin, Richmond Hill Montessori and Private School - Fluoridated Water
Evan Loe, Peoples Christian Academy - Footsteps in a Can
Aisha Parven, Notre Dame High School, TCDSB - Combining Gold Nanoparticles to Inhibit Breast Cancer Growth
Sydney Jacobs, Kevin Wang, Julliard Public School, YRDSB - Est-ce que les bateaux peuvent etre alimente par l’energie renouvelable? (Newmakeit Innovation Award)
Alexandra Simone, St. Mary, YCDSB - How do various factors affect how many germs are reduced by handwashing?
Ryan Kum, Markville Secondary School, YRDSB - Impact of Silver Nanoparticle Exposure on Intestinal Microbiota
Ahmad Ibrahim, As-Sadiq Islamic School - The Effect of Dandelion Root on Longevity of C.Elegans (YRSTF Biology Award)
Keanah Lem, Trillium School - Which Cooking Method Preserves the Most Amount of Vitamin C?

Bronze Medal Winners:
Harry Parmar, Bakersfield Public School, YRDSB - Super Shock Shoes
Howard Chan, St. Charles Garnier, YCDSB - Is Eyewitness Testimony Trustworthy?
Patrick Ang, St. Justin Martyr - Algae Biofuel (Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Award)
Michelle Chou, Helen Wang, Bayview Hill Elementary School, YRDSB - Bug Bistro: Can eating bugs turn into reality?
Sanjay Selvaraj Manivasagam, Daniel Moore, Fossil Hill Public School, YRDSB - Schoolbee
Sanaya Polobotu, Ashton Meadows Public School, YRDSB - Bioplastic Cups
Ryan Dick, St. Justin Martyr, YCDSB - Testing the Strength of Metals Under Pressure (YRSTF Communication and Presentation Award)
Zoha Sojoudi, As-Sadiq Islamic School - Red, Blue, Yellow and White, Which is The Best Color of Light
Fatemeh Ilkhani, As-Sadiq Islamic School - What Acoustic Environment is best for Studying
Heidi Wong, Bur Oak Secondary School, YRDSB - Pink or Purple: A New Approach to Rapid Presumptive Diagnosis of Positive Blood Culture Bottles
Mariam  Iordachescu, Cassandra Lee, Julliard Public School, YRDSB - Le Casque Ultra-Magnetique (YRSTF Physics and Engineering Award)
Cheryl Cheung, Hawk Yang, Markville Secondary School, YRDSB - Water you gonna do with that Lead? (YRSTF Chemistry Award)
Hareshan Suntharalingam, Markham District High School, YRDSB - Cup of Coffee for a healthy brain
Jenna  Gulizia, St. Mary, YCDSB - How Does Your Socioeconomic Status Affect Your Independence and Well-Being as a Senior?

Honourable Mentions:
Nicole Haim, Louis Honore Frechette Public School, YRDSB - Burning Calories
Leiah Nay, Nikita Li, Silver Stream Public School, YRDSB - The Amygdala in Humans
Keishini Selvaganesh, Silver Stream Public School, YRDSB - Elevated TTC Tracks
Alya Fancy, Richmond Hill Private and Montessori School - The Power of Biogas
Balaji Venkatesh, John McCrae Public School, YRDSB - Artificial Intelligence Model for Energy
Asiya Kazmi, As-Sadiq Islamic School - Tweet Your Bias Away
Sagaana Sivathason, Jessica Lam, Unionville Montessori Private School - Which Sunscreen Brand is the Most Effective on Humans
Derrick Cui, Unionville Montessori Private School -  Piping Insulation

For further information, please contact:
Nathalie Rudner
Youth Science Canada Regional Coordinator – York Region
Vaughan Secondary School
Tel: 905-660-1397 ext. 650
Email: nathalie.rudner@yrdsb.ca

Janice Walls
Media Relations, York University
Tel: 416 736 2100 ext. 22101
Email: wallsj@yorku.ca