The future's brightest minds are on display Saturday during the 35th annual Central Interior B.C. Regional Science Fair at Bentley Centre at the University of Northern B.C.
The provincial government has declared 2011 the Year of Science, encouraging students to take science since six of 10 jobs will soon be based in sciences, said science fair organizing committee chair, Anjula Corbin.
But the immediate benefits for the students involved in the Central Interior fair include $2,500 in scholarships, and for the Grade 7 to 12 students, a chance to advance to the national science fair held in Toronto.
Students can enter into eight categories, including life, biotechnology and pharmaceutical, computing and information technology, earth and environmental, health, physical and mathematical, engineering and automotive sciences.
Within each category one project will take top spot.
Winners advance to the Canada Wide Science Fair in Toronto from May 14 to 21, all sponsored by the Central Interior Science Exhibition organization.
It seems the pro-science message is getting out.
Participation is up from last year with 130 projects and 180 students involved while last year there was 100 projects and 130 students.
The exhibition is open to all students in Grades 4 through 12 in public and independent schools in School Districts No. 28 Quesnel, No. 57 Prince George, and No. 91 Nechako Lakes and home-schooled students.
Judging of the projects take place in the morning. The public open house takes place from 2 to 4:30 p.m., and again from 6 to 6:45 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
During the fair at UNBC Saturday there will be special activities set up by Exploration Place, UNBC Science Club and Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society so participants can have a little fun during the day.
