I’d like to start off with a little bit of a story I’ve always been an
of a story I’ve always been an
of a story I’ve always been an incredibly curious person I was the
incredibly curious person I was the
incredibly curious person I was the person that wanted to take things apart
person that wanted to take things apart
person that wanted to take things apart put them back together just to figure
put them back together just to figure
put them back together just to figure out how they worked the way they did and
out how they worked the way they did and
out how they worked the way they did and why they worked and I’m really still
why they worked and I’m really still
why they worked and I’m really still like that today so one day I think my
like that today so one day I think my
like that today so one day I think my inquisitive nature led me to ask one of
inquisitive nature led me to ask one of
inquisitive nature led me to ask one of my friends in sixth grade on the
my friends in sixth grade on the
my friends in sixth grade on the playground the age-old question what
playground the age-old question what
playground the age-old question what would you like to be when you grow up
would you like to be when you grow up
would you like to be when you grow up now her response baffled me quite a bit
now her response baffled me quite a bit
now her response baffled me quite a bit she told me that she wanted to be an
she told me that she wanted to be an
she told me that she wanted to be an engineer now I knew I had heard that
engineer now I knew I had heard that
engineer now I knew I had heard that word before but I couldn’t quite place
word before but I couldn’t quite place
word before but I couldn’t quite place where an engineer okay oh I know where
where an engineer okay oh I know where
where an engineer okay oh I know where I’ve heard that word a locomotive
I’ve heard that word a locomotive
I’ve heard that word a locomotive engineer right okay I can get behind
engineer right okay I can get behind
engineer right okay I can get behind that I love trains but that wasn’t what
that I love trains but that wasn’t what
that I love trains but that wasn’t what she meant at all in fact what she meant
she meant at all in fact what she meant
she meant at all in fact what she meant in her case was that she wanted to be a
in her case was that she wanted to be a
in her case was that she wanted to be a software engineer but to me the entire
software engineer but to me the entire
software engineer but to me the entire realm of Professional Engineering was
realm of Professional Engineering was
realm of Professional Engineering was completely unknown and let’s
completely unknown and let’s
completely unknown and let’s fast-forward to right now almost a
fast-forward to right now almost a
fast-forward to right now almost a decade later and I’m currently pursuing
decade later and I’m currently pursuing
decade later and I’m currently pursuing a degree in engineering
a degree in engineering
a degree in engineering now something must have happened in that
now something must have happened in that
now something must have happened in that period of time where I not only figured
period of time where I not only figured
period of time where I not only figured out what it was but I also figured out
out what it was but I also figured out
out what it was but I also figured out that it was what I wanted to do for the
that it was what I wanted to do for the
that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and when I think back to
rest of my life and when I think back to
rest of my life and when I think back to what that catalyst was that made me
what that catalyst was that made me
what that catalyst was that made me really fall in love with the discipline
really fall in love with the discipline
really fall in love with the discipline I realized that it was science fairs
I realized that it was science fairs
I realized that it was science fairs when I tell you about science fairs you
when I tell you about science fairs you
when I tell you about science fairs you may think of images of blue ribbons of
may think of images of blue ribbons of
may think of images of blue ribbons of baking soda volcanoes and of other
baking soda volcanoes and of other
baking soda volcanoes and of other stereotypical images of the like but I
stereotypical images of the like but I
stereotypical images of the like but I can assure you that science fairs today
can assure you that science fairs today
can assure you that science fairs today especially in Canada are not like that
especially in Canada are not like that
especially in Canada are not like that these titles behind me look like they
these titles behind me look like they
these titles behind me look like they may be able to be ripped right from an
may be able to be ripped right from an
may be able to be ripped right from an academic dissertation but in reality
academic dissertation but in reality
academic dissertation but in reality these are the titles of recent science
these are the titles of recent science
these are the titles of recent science fair projects by elementary school and
fair projects by elementary school and
fair projects by elementary school and high school individuals
it’s easy to think that maybe I just
it’s easy to think that maybe I just pulled out a few outliers here that
pulled out a few outliers here that
pulled out a few outliers here that maybe these are just a few extraordinary
maybe these are just a few extraordinary
maybe these are just a few extraordinary project in the sea of the mundane
project in the sea of the mundane
project in the sea of the mundane projects but I just show you that these
projects but I just show you that these
projects but I just show you that these happen all over Canada and the world
happen all over Canada and the world
happen all over Canada and the world incredible steps and science are made by
incredible steps and science are made by
incredible steps and science are made by youth everyday in Canada we have 102
youth everyday in Canada we have 102
youth everyday in Canada we have 102 regional science fairs they span every
regional science fairs they span every
regional science fairs they span every single province and territory but
single province and territory but
single province and territory but they’re not super known although here
they’re not super known although here
they’re not super known although here students can compete against their peers
students can compete against their peers
students can compete against their peers in order to vie for a spot on the
in order to vie for a spot on the
in order to vie for a spot on the regional and/or provincial teams for the
regional and/or provincial teams for the
regional and/or provincial teams for the Kenda wide science fair the candle wide
Kenda wide science fair the candle wide
Kenda wide science fair the candle wide science fair is Canada’s largest youth
science fair is Canada’s largest youth
science fair is Canada’s largest youth science event it brings together 400 to
science event it brings together 400 to
science event it brings together 400 to 500 of Canada’s brightest young
500 of Canada’s brightest young
500 of Canada’s brightest young innovators every May in order to share
innovators every May in order to share
innovators every May in order to share their research with their peers as well
their research with their peers as well
their research with their peers as well as people in the industry such as
as people in the industry such as
as people in the industry such as doctors engineers and professors they
doctors engineers and professors they
doctors engineers and professors they also get to compete which is really fun
also get to compete which is really fun
also get to compete which is really fun for some enter provincial rivalries and
for some enter provincial rivalries and
for some enter provincial rivalries and it’s quite honestly one of the best
it’s quite honestly one of the best
it’s quite honestly one of the best weeks for science students the step up
weeks for science students the step up
weeks for science students the step up from that is the International Science
from that is the International Science
from that is the International Science and Engineering Fair the International
and Engineering Fair the International
and Engineering Fair the International Science and Engineering Fair sees
Science and Engineering Fair sees
Science and Engineering Fair sees individuals not only cannot compete
individuals not only cannot compete
individuals not only cannot compete against provinces and territories but
against provinces and territories but
against provinces and territories but rather individuals represent their
rather individuals represent their
rather individuals represent their country and compete against the entire
country and compete against the entire
country and compete against the entire world kanda has historically done
world kanda has historically done
world kanda has historically done extraordinarily well at the
extraordinarily well at the
extraordinarily well at the International Science Engineering Fair
International Science Engineering Fair
International Science Engineering Fair I’m quite happy to report so especially
I’m quite happy to report so especially
I’m quite happy to report so especially here is where you see those projects
here is where you see those projects
here is where you see those projects that really do have the capacity to not
that really do have the capacity to not
that really do have the capacity to not only change the industry of science
only change the industry of science
only change the industry of science technology engineering and mathematics
technology engineering and mathematics
technology engineering and mathematics known as stem but they also have the
known as stem but they also have the
known as stem but they also have the capacity to have a lasting impact on
capacity to have a lasting impact on
capacity to have a lasting impact on society and I don’t say that lightly I’d
society and I don’t say that lightly I’d
society and I don’t say that lightly I’d like to introduce to you three
like to introduce to you three
like to introduce to you three individuals who through their research
individuals who through their research
individuals who through their research have been able to make an impact in
have been able to make an impact in
have been able to make an impact in their field and send a ripple through
their field and send a ripple through
their field and send a ripple through their academic discipline from a very
their academic discipline from a very
their academic discipline from a very young age
young age
young age the first is Jack Mogis Jack
the first is Jack Mogis Jack
the first is Jack Mogis Jack participated in the candlelight Science
participated in the candlelight Science
participated in the candlelight Science Fair three times and last year
Fair three times and last year
Fair three times and last year participated in the International
participated in the International
participated in the International Science and Engineering Fair he is a
Science and Engineering Fair he is a
Science and Engineering Fair he is a health oriented materials researcher y
health oriented materials researcher y
health oriented materials researcher y ou Li is a naturally occurring rubber
ou Li is a naturally occurring rubber
ou Li is a naturally occurring rubber compound what Jack was able to do is he
compound what Jack was able to do is he
compound what Jack was able to do is he was able to infuse the guai Li with
was able to infuse the guai Li with
was able to infuse the guai Li with graphene which makes the very first nano
graphene which makes the very first nano
graphene which makes the very first nano composite material that is antifungal
composite material that is antifungal
composite material that is antifungal antibacterial electrically conductive
antibacterial electrically conductive
antibacterial electrically conductive and has advanced mechanical properties
and has advanced mechanical properties
and has advanced mechanical properties this is huge in fact he was able to
this is huge in fact he was able to
this is huge in fact he was able to expand his research in order to create a
expand his research in order to create a
expand his research in order to create a surgical glove that can be used in the
surgical glove that can be used in the
surgical glove that can be used in the industry that because of its properties
industry that because of its properties
industry that because of its properties is puncture-proof and he bacterial and
is puncture-proof and he bacterial and
is puncture-proof and he bacterial and can be sterilized and reused multiple
can be sterilized and reused multiple
can be sterilized and reused multiple times so as to cut back on medical waste
times so as to cut back on medical waste
times so as to cut back on medical waste the next individual is some disease and
the next individual is some disease and
the next individual is some disease and she like me caught the engineering bug
she like me caught the engineering bug
she like me caught the engineering bug through science fair her focus is also
through science fair her focus is also
through science fair her focus is also on health materials but it’s more on the
on health materials but it’s more on the
on health materials but it’s more on the bio interfacing level she participated
bio interfacing level she participated
bio interfacing level she participated in the candle wide science fair in 2015
in the candle wide science fair in 2015
in the candle wide science fair in 2015 and the International Science
and the International Science
and the International Science Engineering Fair in 2016 she’s had two
Engineering Fair in 2016 she’s had two
Engineering Fair in 2016 she’s had two incredible projects over those two years
incredible projects over those two years
incredible projects over those two years and they both focused on bio interfacing
and they both focused on bio interfacing
and they both focused on bio interfacing materials one of which was a bio inert
materials one of which was a bio inert
materials one of which was a bio inert textured coating that can go on to
textured coating that can go on to
textured coating that can go on to implants to make them more compatible
implants to make them more compatible
implants to make them more compatible with the bone so that they are more
with the bone so that they are more
with the bone so that they are more effective in connecting with the bone
effective in connecting with the bone
effective in connecting with the bone but when somebody does have a bone
but when somebody does have a bone
but when somebody does have a bone implant another one saw her create a
implant another one saw her create a
implant another one saw her create a calcium phosphate cement that is able to
calcium phosphate cement that is able to
calcium phosphate cement that is able to be used when in a surgery or in an
be used when in a surgery or in an
be used when in a surgery or in an implant where a bone cement would be
implant where a bone cement would be
implant where a bone cement would be used however it fully bio integrates as
used however it fully bio integrates as
used however it fully bio integrates as the bone grows back it eats away the
the bone grows back it eats away the
the bone grows back it eats away the cement so that when you’re all healed
cement so that when you’re all healed
cement so that when you’re all healed you don’t have that foreign matter in
you don’t have that foreign matter in
you don’t have that foreign matter in you anymore so it’s completely
you anymore so it’s completely
you anymore so it’s completely biocompatible
biocompatible
biocompatible perhaps one of the most prolific youth
perhaps one of the most prolific youth
perhaps one of the most prolific youth scientists in the science fair industry
scientists in the science fair industry
scientists in the science fair industry today is Catherine Bowman Catherine
today is Catherine Bowman Catherine
today is Catherine Bowman Catherine parts has fade in the candle wide
parts has fade in the candle wide
parts has fade in the candle wide science fair for three years and the
science fair for three years and the
science fair for three years and the International Science Engineering Fair
International Science Engineering Fair
International Science Engineering Fair for two she works in the lymphedema
for two she works in the lymphedema
for two she works in the lymphedema treatment lymphedema is a chronic
treatment lymphedema is a chronic
treatment lymphedema is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects
inflammatory disease that affects
inflammatory disease that affects approximately 100 million people
approximately 100 million people
approximately 100 million people globally now despite this large number
globally now despite this large number
globally now despite this large number of people affected there’s currently no
of people affected there’s currently no
of people affected there’s currently no pharmacological treatment instead people
pharmacological treatment instead people
pharmacological treatment instead people that have the disorder or disease rather
that have the disorder or disease rather
that have the disorder or disease rather are subjected to multiple rounds of
are subjected to multiple rounds of
are subjected to multiple rounds of physically exertive tiring tedious
physically exertive tiring tedious
physically exertive tiring tedious therapy in order to physically try and
therapy in order to physically try and
therapy in order to physically try and move the liquid that’s president
move the liquid that’s president
move the liquid that’s president lymphedema off the tissues Catherine
lymphedema off the tissues Catherine
lymphedema off the tissues Catherine decided it was time for a
decided it was time for a
decided it was time for a pharmacological treatment and she is
pharmacological treatment and she is
pharmacological treatment and she is currently having a great amount of
currently having a great amount of
currently having a great amount of success with naturally occurring
success with naturally occurring
success with naturally occurring compounds to treat lymphedema she’s
compounds to treat lymphedema she’s
compounds to treat lymphedema she’s currently studying health sciences and
currently studying health sciences and
currently studying health sciences and has been able to speak across the
has been able to speak across the
has been able to speak across the country in multiple provinces about
country in multiple provinces about
country in multiple provinces about lymphedema and is a well-respected peer
lymphedema and is a well-respected peer
lymphedema and is a well-respected peer in that field in fact she sits on the
in that field in fact she sits on the
in that field in fact she sits on the Alberta land fátima Association Board
Alberta land fátima Association Board
Alberta land fátima Association Board of Directors and she got that position
of Directors and she got that position
of Directors and she got that position when she was just 18 I think it’s
when she was just 18 I think it’s
when she was just 18 I think it’s important to note that although these
important to note that although these
important to note that although these people have some incredible inventions
people have some incredible inventions
people have some incredible inventions now they didn’t wake up one day thinking
now they didn’t wake up one day thinking
now they didn’t wake up one day thinking I’m going to make a nano composite
I’m going to make a nano composite
I’m going to make a nano composite material or I’m going to figure out some
material or I’m going to figure out some
material or I’m going to figure out some bio interfacing cements or even I’m
bio interfacing cements or even I’m
bio interfacing cements or even I’m going to find pharmacological treatment
going to find pharmacological treatment
going to find pharmacological treatment for lymphedema in fact they had very
for lymphedema in fact they had very
for lymphedema in fact they had very humble beginnings jock started with a
humble beginnings jock started with a
humble beginnings jock started with a project in liquefaction Sam his first
project in liquefaction Sam his first
project in liquefaction Sam his first project was on color attention or memory
project was on color attention or memory
project was on color attention or memory detention using color coding and
detention using color coding and
detention using color coding and Catherine looked at bacteria in reusable
Catherine looked at bacteria in reusable
Catherine looked at bacteria in reusable bags however through the outlet of
bags however through the outlet of
bags however through the outlet of science fair they were able to build
science fair they were able to build
science fair they were able to build their way up to projects that have
their way up to projects that have
their way up to projects that have meaningful and lasting impacts not only
meaningful and lasting impacts not only
meaningful and lasting impacts not only on the academic industry but on society
on the academic industry but on society
on the academic industry but on society I think what it really comes down to
I think what it really comes down to
I think what it really comes down to for me is four main points about the
for me is four main points about the
for me is four main points about the importance of science fairs and the
importance of science fairs and the
importance of science fairs and the effect on their they have on youth for
effect on their they have on youth for
effect on their they have on youth for one science fairs are able to bring
one science fairs are able to bring
one science fairs are able to bring sideline groups into the conversation
sideline groups into the conversation
sideline groups into the conversation often people and groups such as females
often people and groups such as females
often people and groups such as females indigenous peoples and people from
indigenous peoples and people from
indigenous peoples and people from developing country aren’t able to
developing country aren’t able to
developing country aren’t able to participate in academia and especially
participate in academia and especially
participate in academia and especially not stem now this is completely unfair
not stem now this is completely unfair
not stem now this is completely unfair because these people have amazing ideas
because these people have amazing ideas
because these people have amazing ideas and they have every right to be in that
and they have every right to be in that
and they have every right to be in that industry so science fairs provide that
industry so science fairs provide that
industry so science fairs provide that outlet for these people who may be
outlet for these people who may be
outlet for these people who may be marginalized or sidelined in the
marginalized or sidelined in the
marginalized or sidelined in the conversation to become a part of the
conversation to become a part of the
conversation to become a part of the narrative
narrative
narrative additionally science fairs enrich
additionally science fairs enrich
additionally science fairs enrich scientific experience through cultural
scientific experience through cultural
scientific experience through cultural dialogue and travel
dialogue and travel
dialogue and travel I personally was able to travel to
I personally was able to travel to
I personally was able to travel to Australia to be part of the National
Australia to be part of the National
Australia to be part of the National Youth Science Forum on behalf of Canada
Youth Science Forum on behalf of Canada
Youth Science Forum on behalf of Canada in 2015
in 2015
in 2015 being able to talk to people with
being able to talk to people with
being able to talk to people with diverse cultural backgrounds diverse
diverse cultural backgrounds diverse
diverse cultural backgrounds diverse academic backgrounds and diverse
academic backgrounds and diverse
academic backgrounds and diverse interests for me was absolutely
interests for me was absolutely
interests for me was absolutely incredible and to do it all while
incredible and to do it all while
incredible and to do it all while bounding bonding over science was a real
bounding bonding over science was a real
bounding bonding over science was a real treat people from Canada get to be get
treat people from Canada get to be get
treat people from Canada get to be get to go to places like Taiwan and Norway
to go to places like Taiwan and Norway
to go to places like Taiwan and Norway and Belgium for scientific initiatives
and Belgium for scientific initiatives
and Belgium for scientific initiatives representing Canada and in a world that
representing Canada and in a world that
representing Canada and in a world that is hallmarked by its divisive Ness I
is hallmarked by its divisive Ness I
is hallmarked by its divisive Ness I think it’s incredibly important for
think it’s incredibly important for
think it’s incredibly important for people to start that international
people to start that international
people to start that international conversation and to do so well making
conversation and to do so well making
conversation and to do so well making projects and coming up with ideas that
projects and coming up with ideas that
projects and coming up with ideas that can help not only one area but how does
can help not only one area but how does
can help not only one area but how does potential to affect people
potential to affect people
potential to affect people internationally in a positive way I
internationally in a positive way I
internationally in a positive way I think it really is important to bring
think it really is important to bring
think it really is important to bring people from different nations into the
people from different nations into the
people from different nations into the conversation also science fairs
conversation also science fairs
conversation also science fairs introduced academic practices an inquiry
introduced academic practices an inquiry
introduced academic practices an inquiry early oftentimes when people get to
early oftentimes when people get to
early oftentimes when people get to post-secondary education they’re pretty
post-secondary education they’re pretty
post-secondary education they’re pretty lost posters and reports and abstracts
lost posters and reports and abstracts
lost posters and reports and abstracts are all foreign and it takes a while to
are all foreign and it takes a while to
are all foreign and it takes a while to get used to which is especially hard to
get used to which is especially hard to
get used to which is especially hard to do when you’re undergoing academic rigor
do when you’re undergoing academic rigor
do when you’re undergoing academic rigor studying no science for kids have a bit
studying no science for kids have a bit
studying no science for kids have a bit of a step up
of a step up
of a step up after doing it quite a bit poster boards
after doing it quite a bit poster boards
after doing it quite a bit poster boards and reports and abstracts become far
and reports and abstracts become far
and reports and abstracts become far easier so people are able to right away
easier so people are able to right away
easier so people are able to right away dive into their research and be on more
dive into their research and be on more
dive into their research and be on more of a level with some of their academic
of a level with some of their academic
of a level with some of their academic peers I think one of the most important
peers I think one of the most important
peers I think one of the most important things about science fair though would
things about science fair though would
things about science fair though would be the camaraderie these photos are all
be the camaraderie these photos are all
be the camaraderie these photos are all from the Canada wide science fair and
from the Canada wide science fair and
from the Canada wide science fair and the four weeks I was able to spend over
the four weeks I was able to spend over
the four weeks I was able to spend over four years of Canada wide science fair
four years of Canada wide science fair
four years of Canada wide science fair absolutely changed my life I now have
absolutely changed my life I now have
absolutely changed my life I now have friends from coast to coast and I’ve
friends from coast to coast and I’ve
friends from coast to coast and I’ve learned things that I never thought I
learned things that I never thought I
learned things that I never thought I would be able to learn and I’ve been
would be able to learn and I’ve been
would be able to learn and I’ve been inspired to continue my innovations
inspired to continue my innovations
inspired to continue my innovations through other people bouncing ideas off
through other people bouncing ideas off
through other people bouncing ideas off each other and also just having a lot of
each other and also just having a lot of
each other and also just having a lot of fun so when I really think back to that
fun so when I really think back to that
fun so when I really think back to that one day in grade six on the playground
one day in grade six on the playground
one day in grade six on the playground what I asked my friend what do you want
what I asked my friend what do you want
what I asked my friend what do you want to be when you grow up I don’t think I
to be when you grow up I don’t think I
to be when you grow up I don’t think I asked the right question I think I
asked the right question I think I
asked the right question I think I should have just asked her what do you
should have just asked her what do you
should have just asked her what do you want to be what are your passions what
want to be what are your passions what
want to be what are your passions what kind of legacy do you want to leave on
kind of legacy do you want to leave on
kind of legacy do you want to leave on this world because the truth is you
this world because the truth is you
this world because the truth is you don’t have to wait till they grow up to
don’t have to wait till they grow up to
don’t have to wait till they grow up to make an impact on the industry has
make an impact on the industry has
make an impact on the industry has positive societal effects in fact they
positive societal effects in fact they
positive societal effects in fact they can start right now people always say
can start right now people always say
can start right now people always say that youth are tomorrow they are they
that youth are tomorrow they are they
that youth are tomorrow they are they hold the future but I’m here to tell you
hold the future but I’m here to tell you
hold the future but I’m here to tell you that youth can be invested and are
that youth can be invested and are
that youth can be invested and are invested in science technology
invested in science technology
invested in science technology engineering and mathematics today and
engineering and mathematics today and
engineering and mathematics today and through science fairs they get that
through science fairs they get that
through science fairs they get that outlet to be able to be part of that
outlet to be able to be part of that
outlet to be able to be part of that industry and to make real changes right
industry and to make real changes right
industry and to make real changes right away thank you
away thank you
away thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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