Public invited to FLA science fair at Queen’s University

After a three-year hiatus, young scientists in the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington area are preparing to present their science fair projects at Queen’s University.

Starting Thursday, Mar. 30, 2023, students from grades 5 to 12 from all school boards in the region will have their projects on display at Duncan McArthur Hall at Queen’s University’s West Campus for the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Science Fair (FLASF).

According to a release from event organizers, for 2023, there are 169 students from 17 different schools registered. FLASF will culminate with a Keynote Speaker, Alan MacDonald, a teacher in the Challenge Program at Loughborough Public School, who will speak about “The Science of Food: Saving the World with Vegetables.’.

The FLASF participants present science projects in four project divisions: computer science and engineering, physical and mathematical sciences, life and earth sciences and human health sciences. Each age category will have winners in these divisions, complete with certificates, medals, and trophies, organizers noted. The Awards Ceremony will conclude with the FLASF Best of Fair winners, who will represent the region and join the other top 500+ science fair winners from across Canada at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton this May. The students will also compete for a variety of special awards sponsored by local organizations that include cash prizes, gift certificates and summer camp scholarships, according to the release.

All the projects will be open for public viewing on Friday, Mar. 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Duncan McArthur Hall, 511 Union Street. FLASF said that all are welcome “to congratulate and encourage our young scientists!”

Community support ensures FLASF can take place each year. FLASF listed the following key sponsors for their 2023 event: Invista (Canada) Company, Kingston Process Metallurgy (KPM), Leahurst College, St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, and local school boards, companies and service organizations.

“FLASF is a non-profit, registered charity run by a group of volunteers from the community to promote and encourage student activity in the sciences,” organizers said. “We are guided and supported by Youth Science Canada, the national organization that enables Canadian youth to investigate scientific questions and develop innovative solutions related to current and future challenges, and hosts the annual Canada-Wide Science Fair.”

Information about the FLA Science Fair, including awards, a full schedule of events, and more are available online at www.flasf.on.ca.