Top winners announced at Durham Regional Science Fair 2005

OSHAWA, Ont. - The Durham Regional Science Fair 2005, which was hosted by UOIT, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2005 Pfizer Canada Award of Excellence, the Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories Award and the Sci-Tech Ontario Stepping Stone Award.

The winner of the 2005 Pfizer Canada Award of Excellence is Malar Annal from Pickering H.S. for her project, "A Coloured Barcode for the Human Karyotype." This award is presented to the best project at the regional level. Annal also received the Stepping Stone Award, supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This award of $1,500 is administered by Sci-Tech Ontario and covers the region's cost of sending an additional student to the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

In addition, Annal will share the Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories Award with Robin Hardie and Felicia Seucharan from Lord Elgin P.S. in Ajax ("The Effect of High Protein and Carbohydrate Intake on Heart Rate in Adolescent Females"). This award of $100 each goes to the students with the top laboratory sciences project at the regional level.

"I would like to congratulate all of the young scientists who participated in the 2005 regional fair. These students should be commended for their talent and innovation," said Mark Dzurko, chair of Durham Regional Science Fair. "I would also like to thank Pfizer Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories and Sci-Tech Ontario for their generous support. These awards help encourage more students to pursue education and careers in science and technology."

The first prize in each individual category is as follows:

• Junior - Biological Science (Grades 7 to 8): Robin Hardie and Felicia Seucharan
• Junior - Physical Science (Grades 7 to 8): Heikki Loorand, "Bermuda Triangle Theory," Lakewoods P.S. in Oshawa
• Junior - Engineering (Grades 7 to 8): Alan Powell, "The Magnagen: A Magnetic Generator," Fallingbrook P.S. in Whitby
• Senior - Biological Science (Grades 11 to 12): Malar Annal

The Faculty of Science at UOIT would like to congratulate all winners and thank all participants for their innovative projects. For more information on the fair, contact Dr. Peter Berg at 905.721.3111 ext. 2457.

Sci-Tech Ontario is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting youth participation in science and technology. The organization sponsors Team Sci-Tech Ontario, the top regional winners from across Ontario (approximately 180 students) who will compete at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Vancouver, B.C. in May. Sci-Tech Ontario is sponsored by Pfizer Canada Inc, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the University of Ottawa, and the Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories and administers their awards. For more information about Sci-Tech Ontario, please visit the website at www.scitechontario.org.

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Media contact
Tania Henvey
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111 ext. 2513
tania.henvey@uoit.ca