Entries for the 2018 Cawthron Scitec Expo already rolling in

Entries for the 2018 Cawthron Scitec Expo already rolling in

Entries are already rolling in for the 2018 Cawthron Scitec Expo. Projects already entered include: Music and plants, How ants react to oleic acid, and Bin bag explosions. Students have until 7 September to get their entries in.

The Cawthron Scitec Expo is a popular fixture on the school calendar in the top of the south that has been running for more than 30 years. Cawthron has managed the event since 2012. Many thousands of students have competed in the fairs, bolstering their enthusiasm for science and offering a glimpse into a potential career.

Cawthron Foundation Manager, Sally Ann Hughes, has noticed that in recent years many projects have a focus on sustainability and says, “this fits well with Cawthron’s strengths in environmental science and shows that our younger generation is also concerned about environmental issues.”

“One of last year’s supreme winners looked at sediment changes in Tasman Bay and whether the amount of dissolved oxygen in the Maitai and Brook waterways could be used as an indicator of river health.”

In addition to the energy that the students and schools put in to participating in the Expo, local science professionals and volunteers donate considerable time.

“We couldn’t run this event without community support,” says Hughes. “In addition, local businesses also donate money to cover Expo operating costs and prizes. The prizes alone are worth around $7,000 and we are hugely appreciative of the generosity of local sponsors. Long-standing major sponsors include Nelson Pine Industries Limited (NPI) and both regional councils.”

“Council is proud to support the Scitec Expo. It recognises that investing in science, the environment and our young people is essential for our future,” says Clare Barton, Group Manager Environmental Management at Nelson City Council. “It’s great to see student research being channeled into solving problems.”

This year will see students in years 9 – 13 seeking to impress the judges with their scientific and technological skills. The exhibits go through a strict protocol to meet the required standards, and many pupils have already had to battle it out at their own school to gain entry to this regional competition. All entries will be available for public display on 26 September at the Trafalgar Centre.

Further Information:

7 September Deadline for entries 5pm

25 September Judging followed by presentations 4-6pm

26 September Public viewing all day (Trafalgar Centre, Nelson – free entry)

25 October Awards ceremony 4pm (Elim Christian Centre)

Go to www.cawthronscitec.org.nz for further details about the 2018 Cawthron Scitec Expo (Science and Technology Fair)

ENDS

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