Curious about the world around you? The 4-H Canada Science Fair is your opportunity to share your ideas about improving your club, community or even the country! Last year at the first-ever 4-H Canada Science Fair, youth just like you from grade 7-12 showed their projects to judges in Truro, NS. These finalists also explored fun Science & Technology programming like robotics, agriculture and botanical gardens at the Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus. So what are you waiting for? Register today and we can support you with any questions you may have.
Meet Michael Jones, one of our 4-H Canada Science Fair winners on why you should participate 4-H Canada Science Fair!
Q. Why did you participate in the 4-H Canada Science Fair?
A. I decided to participate because I enjoyed doing science fair projects in the past and when I was presented with this opportunity, I realized it was an opportunity that I had been waiting for and I took advantage of it!
Q. Describe your project.
A. For my project, titled “Soil Your Undies,” I buried 100 per cent cotton men's briefs for two months to test microbiology levels in different fields. I also conducted two other secondary tests to see what soil types the fields were and to see how much physical decomposing matter was contained in the soil. I concluded that a field that is long-term no-till was the most biologically active, which is good for the soil health and the crops growing in the field.
Q. How did you find the process? Was it easy to register, complete your project, or get help?
A. The process was fairly simple and straight-forward. You registered before, during or after completing your project, as long as it was finished by the deadline. Doing my project was simple, but it took patience, focus and a fair amount of motivation to get it done. As for help, all you had to do was pick up your phone or power up your email account and Melina Found, the Science Coordinator at the 4-H Canada office, was ready to assist.
Q. What was something new that you learned or that surprised you about participating in the science fair?
A. I was surprised at how many hard-working and motivated youth committed to science there were, especially at the Canada-Wide Science Festival. At science fairs, there are so many other youth with the same spark of curiosity as you, and it changes your whole perspective.
Q. What was the highlight of your experience?
A. The highlight of my experience was the moment when my name was called as one of the winners in Truro, NS. It felt like I could do anything and the feeling that I was one of the best was amazing, like nothing else I had felt before.
Q. How has your experience in the 4-H Canada Science Fair impacted how you think about science? Has it changed what you want to do in the future?
A. The 4-H Canada Science Fair has changed the way I look at science. Instead of disregarding it, I look at it with respect, because I now know the work and dedication that goes behind a research paper. I now also want to pursue a career in a science field, because I know it’s something I’m good at.
Q. What would you say to other members considering doing a science fair project?
A. Go for it! You never know what might happen. Seeing your project come together is super rewarding and satisfying, take my word for it. As the saying goes: You never know unless you try!
Tu penses réaliser un projet pour l'Expo-sciences des 4-H du Canada? Nous avons interviewé Melina Found, notre coordonnatrice des sciences, afin qu'elle t’explique les trois différents types de projets que tu peux faire!
Q: Tout d'abord, pourquoi les jeunes des 4-H devraient-ils participer à l'Expo-sciences des 4-H du Canada?
R: Les membres qui ont participé l'an passé nous ont confié des propos tels que « Je me suis beaucoup amusé tout en apprenant une foule de choses! » et « C'est une expérience inoubliable! »
Si un enjeu pique ta curiosité ou si tu veux explorer un sujet qui te passionne, inscris-toi à l’Expo-sciences des 4-H du Canada! C’est facile; il suffit de consulter le site http://4-h-canada.ca/fr/expo-sciences-des-4-h-du-canada-0 et de suivre les étapes qui y sont indiquées.
Q : Une fois inscrit – comment fait-on pour choisir un sujet de projet?
R: Pour choisir un sujet qui te convient, pense à tes intérêts, à tes passions, à ce que tu veux explorer ou à tout problème que tu souhaites régler. Certains membres trouvent de l'inspiration dans les projets auxquels ils s’adonnent avec leurs clubs ou dans les événements qui ont lieu dans leur communauté.
Q : Qu’est-ce que je fais après avoir choisi un sujet de projet?
R : Après avoir choisi le sujet de ton projet, élabore une question à laquelle tu aimerais répondre et commence à faire des recherches de base. Une fois que tu auras élaboré la question à laquelle tu souhaites tenter de répondre, tu dois décider quel type de projet, c’est-à-dire une expérience, une innovation ou une étude, te permettra le mieux d’y répondre.
Q: Imaginons les différents types de projets comme un simple projet scientifique visant à fabriquer un volcan avec du bicarbonate de soude et du vinaigre. Comment un tel projet prendrait-il vie si l'on en fait une expérience?
R : Une expérience consiste à vérifier une hypothèse ou une supposition. Dans le cadre d’une expérience sur un volcan, l’hypothèse pourrait être : « Je pense que le vinaigre blanc créera la plus haute éruption parce que ______. » Je modifierais une variable (p. ex. le type de vinaigre), mesurerais une variable (p. ex. la hauteur de l’éruption avec une règle) et conserverais les autres variables (p. ex. la quantité de vinaigre, le type de bicarbonate de soude, etc.). Les meilleures expériences sont originales, soigneusement planifiées et mettent l’accent sur les variables.
Tout au long de mon expérience (ou innovation, ou étude), je noterais toutes mes idées, questions, données et conclusions dans mon journal de bord.
Q: Qu'en serait-il d'un volcan comme projet d'innovation?
R : Une innovation consiste à créer un nouveau produit, technique ou technologie.
Je créerais un volcan comme projet d’innovation en posant une question telle que : « Puis-je concevoir un volcan dont l’éruption mesure deux mètres de haut? » Je chercherais différents modèles et conceptions en examinant ce qui fonctionne et ce qui ne fonctionne pas.
Puis, je concevrais un nouveau modèle ou j’en modifierais un qui existe déjà, en plus de construire des prototypes (c.-à-d. des modèles que tu peux mettre à l’essai). Je choisirais le prototype qui fonctionne le mieux et je tenterais de l’améliorer encore davantage.
Q: J’ai entendu dire que les études sont les projets scientifiques les plus difficiles. Comment ferais-je une étude sur un volcan?
R : Tu dois vraiment prendre plaisir à effectuer des recherches pour réussir à faire une étude, en plus de consulter une variété d’études scientifiques et de sources fiables, notamment le site Web d’un gouvernement ou d’une université. Après avoir fait tes recherches, compare et évalue les informations afin de tirer de nouvelles conclusions.
Pour réaliser une étude sur les volcans, je commencerais par me poser une question comme : « Quelles forces physiques sont en cause dans un volcan de vinaigre et de bicarbonate de soude? » Je ferais ensuite des recherches sur les différentes forces physiques impliquées dans « l’explosion » d’un volcan.
Les conclusions les plus solides établissent des liens sur la façon dont cette étude pourrait éclaircir d’autres problèmes du monde réel.
Are you thinking of doing a 4-H Canada Science Fair project? We interviewed Melina Found, our Science Coordinator to explain the three different types of projects you can do!
Q: First off - why should 4-H youth get involved in the 4-H Canada Science Fair?
A: The short answer is that it is fun! Members who participated last year said, “I had an awesome time and learned so much!” and “It is an experience you’ll never forget!”
If you’re curious about something, or want to explore a topic you’re passionate about, then register for the 4-H Canada Science Fair! It’s easy; just visit 4-h-canada.ca/4HCanadaScienceFair and go from there.
Q: Once registered – how does someone select a project topic?
A: To select a topic that is right for you, think about your interests, your passions, what you want to explore or any problems you wish to solve. Some members look at their club projects or what’s happening in their community for inspiration.
Q: What’s next after selecting a project topic?
A: After you select your project topic, develop the question you’d like to answer and start doing some foundational research. Once you have come up with a question, decide which project type: an experiment, innovation or study is the best way to answer it.
Q: Let’s imagine the different project types as a simple volcano science project made with baking soda and vinegar. How would a volcano project look as an experiment?
A: An experiment involves testing a hypothesis or ‘educated guess’. In a volcano experiment, it might be: “I think white vinegar will create the tallest eruptions because ___.” I would change one variable (e.g. types of vinegar), measure one variable (e.g. the height of the eruptions with a ruler) and keep the rest of the variables the same (e.g. the amount of vinegar, type of baking soda, etc.). The best experiments are original, carefully planned and focus on variables.
Throughout my experiment, (or innovation or study)I would write down all my ideas, questions, data and conclusions in my logbook.
Q: Okay, what about a volcano as an innovation?
A: An innovation involves creating a new product, technique, or technology.
I would build a volcano innovation by asking a question like, “Can I design a volcano that has an eruption that is 2 metres tall?” I would research different models and designs, looking at what works well and what doesn’t.
I would then create a new design or tweak an existing one, and build prototypes (i.e. models you can test). I would take the prototype that performs the best and try to make it even better.
Q: We hear studies are the most challenging science project types; how would we do a volcano study?
A: You need to truly enjoy research to successfully do a study and should look at a variety of scientific studies and reliable sources like a government or university websites. After doing your research, compare and evaluate the information to draw new conclusions.
To perform a study on volcanos, I would ask a question like, “What physical forces are involved in a vinegar and baking soda volcano?” I would then research the different physical forces involved in the volcano ‘explosion’.
The strongest conclusions make links to how this study could inform other real-world issues.
We believe that youth can effect change within Canada and the world. They have the potential to innovatively solve some of planet’s biggest challenges, like the capacity to feed 9 billion people by the year 2050, to addressing the labour gaps along the way.
But in order for youth to succeed in the future, we must provide them with the opportunities to expand their skills and increase their knowledge today. That is why we recently expanded our Science and Technology Leadership Development Pillar to include a nation-wide Science Fair.
Working closely with Youth Science Canada, 4-H Canada has developed and implemented an innovative science-based program which contains three separate rounds; a virtual round with projects submitted online, a 4-H Canada Science Fair at Dalhousie University’s Agriculture Campus, and the Canada-Wide Science Festival in Montreal. Through these events, 4-H members will have the opportunity to connect with some of Canada’s best inventors, scientists and entrepreneurs while diving into hands-on projects and activities.
What makes 4-H Canada’s Science Fair unique is its focus on encouraging 4-H youth to examine the link between science, technology and agriculture. By introducing rural youth to new science and technology based programming, like the 4-H Science Fair, they are exposed to new ideas beyond the traditional sense of agriculture. They are able to explore other areas of interest, think about potential career paths and develop a range of critical thinking skills.
Through this program expansion we are able to encourage members to discover the fascinating world of science and technology and learn how it impacts their everyday lives. By using modern inquiry-based learning techniques, the Science Fair will increase their awareness of STEM and how it relates to sustainable agriculture and food security.
For more information about this year’s 4-H Canada Science Fair, along with a full list of sponsors, visit 4-h-canada.ca/sciencefair today.
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