Young scientists put on super show

Kahnawake Survival School was packed on Wednesday night as community members flocked to see the ingenuity of local youth on display at this year’s edition of the Kahnawake Education Center (KEC) science fair.

Well over 200 students from grades five, six, eight, and 10 - the age groups eligible for the Quebec Indigenous Science Fair - showed off what they learned through their scientific inquiry, with the eclectic projects ranging from whether the Three Sisters grow better together or separately to exploring how a guitar amplifier works.

“I was so impressed with the diversity of project topics, creativity, and innovation on display tonight,” said KEC director of education Iakowennaiéwas Falen Jacobs, adding that the students were confident and knowledgeable in presenting what they did.

“Their hard work is evident, and they should all be so proud of themselves,” she said.

This year’s provincial event is taking place in March in La Tuque, Quebec, but first hopefuls have to get through the KEC fair, which has cash prizes for a little extra incentive, including a top prize of $150. The winners have not yet been announced at press time.

“There are so many amazing projects across all grade levels,” said Mya Bordeau, science project liaison at KEC.

“I think it gets them to be creative and into science and experiment and see what’s out there for them and what they’re curious about, what they want to learn more about,” said Bordeau, adding it gives the students a chance to gain confidence in presenting their own work.

Innovations or creativity along the lines of culture and community are always a hit with judges at the provincial fair, Bordeau said, but there were all kinds of ideas on display at the bustling exhibition for curious fair-goers - those wondering whether they’d be better off licking a toilet, desk, or a phone did not leave disappointed.

Sixth-grader Avrianna Diabo wanted to know how much sugar is really in the soda we drink.

“There’s a lot more sugar in soda than I expected,” said Diabo, who weighed out granulated sugar and installed it in baggies hanging over cans of Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, and Orange Fanta.

Fair-goers were shocked to see the display, Diabo said. Even Diabo’s grandmother Kim Delisle was surprised.

“It’s the first time I tried that one, the Orange Fanta, and I looked at how much sugar’s in there. Quite interesting,” said Delisle, who was glad to see her granddaughter get a chance to do the work.

“It’s exciting to see her, as a past educator,” said Delisle.

Grade six student Iakorihwawa:kon Phillips decided to explore the impacts of bullying, including what people go through and how they may express it.

“I think it can really help people who are being bullied,” Phillips said.

Her mother, Sydney Diabo, said she believes it’s an important message for people to hear.

“I’m so proud,” Diabo said of her daughter putting in the work and presenting it to the community.

“Just to get it out there and let kids know they’re not alone - everyone’s getting bullied, whether it’s in middle school, high school, elementary school, your workplace, there’s bullying everywhere, and they need to know that it needs to be taken seriously,” said Sydney.

“It’s good to see the different subjects that everybody’s doing. It’s awesome,” said Kirby Joe Diabo, whose comes every year. His grade 10 son Saha:kohe Diabo took inspiration from Kirby Joe’s bait-selling business and investigated lure colours.

“I chose this because I really like fishing, and I always wonder why my lures weren’t really working,” Saha:kohe said.

“I learned that you use natural baits in clear water and brighter baits in murky water,” he said.

He likes to see what his peers came up with, too. “It’s always fun to talk to people and look at what other people do and what they like, their hobbies,” he said.

Amongst the parents, students, and science aficionados in attendance were judges roaming with clipboards.

Judge Jordan Stacey remembers his own science fair days, and he thinks things have grown since then, with more participation now. He appreciated seeing how engaged many of the students were with their work - a stark contrast to the way he was as a young presenter, he said.

One thing he’s paying attention to is “if the student is presenting it and knows their project, more than what the project is,” he said.

Each judge rated the projects according to standardized judging criteria.

Jacobs believes the creation and presentation of the projects will help equip community students to become the leaders of tomorrow.

“I’m excited to see how our students will incorporate the skills they’ve learned through applying the scientific method to their assignments into their daily lives and future career paths,” she said.

[email protected]

Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter