Feasting on science
Students from Rankin, Chester to compete at national fair
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 16, 2014
ARVIAT
Students from across the Kivalliq descended upon Arviat to take part in the annual Kivalliq Regional Science Fair this past month.
Chelsea Sammutok watches as Devin Bruce passes Janelle Maashi through the spiderweb ropes to teammates Matilda Putulik, front, and Natasha Kimmalairjuk during the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair in Arviat in March of 2014. - photo courtesy Brandon Otway |
The event is sponsored by the Kivalliq Science Educators' Community (KSEC), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014.
The top two entries earn the right each year to represent Kivalliq at the Canada-wide Science Fair.
This year, that honour went to the Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) duo of Grachel D'Cunha and Amiel Hernandez of Rankin Inlet, who took top spot for their work on investigating air quality in Rankin homes. Mason Tautu of Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet took second spot with his project, Inuit Games Injury Prevention.
The three students will travel to Windsor, Ont., for the Canada-wide Science Fair from May 10 to 17.
MUI science teacher Katharine O'Connell said the Arviat fair was co-hosted by John Arnalukjuak High School and Qitiqliq Middle School.
She said the projects took a big leap forward in 2014 from those of past years.
"The projects were aesthetically pleasing and were very high on scientific content and merit," said O'Connell.
"I would have to say this was our best year ever for overall project quality.
"It was exciting to see every school advancing, and it made the fair a lot more competitive.
"The judges had a tough time selecting winners."
O'Connell said the students were quite interested in seeing the projects brought by the other schools.
She said they were also quick to help out.
"Some kids arrived earlier in the day, and, when the rest of us came in, they helped set up all the projects.
"We had four students take part from every high school in the region except the host school and Whale Cove, which sent two.
"In Arviat, the middle school sent extra kids."
O'Connell said she was impressed with the scientific data, thought and process the projects contained this year.
She said the long-term stability of teachers seems to be helping with project quality.
"Our teachers are able to learn a lot when they go to the regional fair or the nationals.
"It's a professional-development activity for teachers and a great opportunity for students.
"We've had teachers from Rankin, Chester, Repulse and Arviat attend the national fair now, and they've been able to help their students understand the process better.
"Having a strong core group of teachers, who continuously come back to the science fair or KSEC-related events, definitely helps with improving the overall quality of the projects."
Teacher Glen Brocklebank of Chesterfield Inlet said he agrees this year's fair featured more competitive projects then he can remember from past fairs he's attended.
He said students and teachers have been striving to better understand the judge's standard of performance for a defined population called a rubric, and that's led to a rise in quality.
"Increasing the scientific thought is the best way to increase your marks," said Brocklebank.
"If you increase the depth of science you're going into, and try to control your variables more, then you have a better chance of improving the overall mark your project is evaluated at.
"In Chester, as soon as we realized what we were being assessed on, we immediately improved.
"We've had 12 years of Canada-wide participation by a kid from Chester."
Brocklebank said students coming together and helping others is a cornerstone of KSEC programming.
He said science is a vehicle that leads to the forming of a community.
"By the end of the science fair, you see hugs, cries, tears of joy, and the making of plans to see each-other at the next fair or camp.
"That level is indicative of what we've been able to create in the KSEC.
"We're powered by human resources, and the people who come together to host the fair, the teachers who attend and the chaperones all really buy into the whole idea of promoting science education.
"That shows in the significantly higher calibre of projects we witnessed in Arviat."
Brocklebank said he has high hopes for the three Kivalliq regional winners at the national fair in Windsor.
He said the students are quite articulate and can explain their projects very well.
"These students will dazzle the judges with the ability to explain their projects.
"We've had five bronze medals in the past, and I have my fingers crossed for something higher this year.
"I still think about the year Scott Sammurtok won our regional fair, then misplaced the notes on his qamutiik project before the national fair.
"In my mind, that project was destined for great things, but having the science without the logbook was its downfall at the national."
