Award for Excellence in Astronomy

The Education Committee supports the Canada-Wide Science Fair by awarding the Award for Excellence in Astronomy each year to the top student presenting in that category - one each in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories. The award is a $200 cash prize along with a certificate and a one year Youth membership in the Society.

The Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is the annual national championships of the National Science Fair Program - a competition hosting the national finalists selected by nearly 100 Youth Science Foundation Canada (YSF) affiliated Regional Science Fairs across Canada. Each year, approximately 25,000 young scientists in Grades 7 to 12 participate in these nearly 100 Regions, showcasing their research and design achievements, and competing to represent their region at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. The CWSF takes place in May of each year in a different Canadian city each year.

2023 - Edmonton

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate

Timelike and Null Geodesics around a Reissner-Nordström Black Hole
Alexander Abesteh – Ottawa, Ontario

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior – Developing algorithms to determine asteroid’s physical properties and success of deflection missions
Arushi Nath – Toronto, Ontario

2022 - virtual/Fredericton

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate

SMARTEN: Simulated Microgravity and Reduced Friction Test Environment for Nanosatellites
Silas Eastwood – Halifax, Nova Scotia

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior – Strengthening Planetary Defense: Detecting Unknown Asteroids using Open Data, Math, and Python
Arushi Nath – Toronto, Ontario

2021 - virtual

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate

Revolution Evolution: The Design Evolution of a Space Qualified Reaction Wheel, Silas Eastwood – Halifax, Nova Scotia

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior – My Satellite, Aiyaan Faisal – Manitoba

2020 - Edmonton (cancelled)

2019 - Fredericton

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate

Detecting Exoplanets Using Supervised Machine Learning, Ali Rizvi – Regina, Saskatchewan

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC

Junior – BioGrade Yeast: Biomanufacturing with Antifreeze-Yeast on Mars, Patricia Rea – Markham, Ontario

2018 - Ottawa

2017 - Regina

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate

Orbital Eccentricity and Solar Energy, Atanas Kolev – Regina, Saskatchewan

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC

Junior – The Exoplanets, Rose Cloutier and Virginie Paquet – Saint-Georges

2016 - Montréal

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate

Discovery from Space, William Gadoury – St-Jean-de-Matha, Québec

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior – Reconnaissance Sensory Space Glove Prototype, Eungyung Kim – Prince George, B.C.

2015 - Fredericton

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate
Fusion + Fission = Future, Caleb Winder [15] – Lambton County ON

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior - Goodnight Sun!, Janet Dawson[13] – Vancouver Island BC

2014 - Windsor

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate
Star in a Jar, Caleb Winder [14] – Lambton County ON

Telescope & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior - Does Light Cause Crime?, Grant Mansiere [14] – Central Okanagan BC

2013 - Lethbridge

$750 cash & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Intermediate
From Cosmic Rays: Matter and Anti-Matter, Samin Dolatabadi[15] – Southeast Alberta AB

$500 cash & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior
Using a Gravity Well As A Simulation 2.0: Planets Orbiting a Binary Star System, Connor MacLean [14] – Sudbury ON

2012 - Charlottetown

$500 cash & certificate plus a one-year membership to RASC
Junior
The Confinable Cosmos, by Patrick Fraser [14] – Avon Maitland-Huron, Perth, ON

2011 - Toronto, Ontario 50th Anniversary

The 2011 Canada-Wide Science Fair at Seneca College in North York (May 14-21).

The national science fair program recognizes the efforts of all young scientists. Each year approximately half a million young Canadians undertake science and technology projects, either as part of their schoolwork or as a personal interest. Of that number, more than 25,000 young scientists participate in over 100 Regional Science Fairs in every province and territory.

Within the National Science Fair Program, the Canada-Wide Science Fair constitutes the national championship round, where finalists from regional science fairs across the country meet and compete for $1M worth of cash prizes, scholarships, and travel awards.

2010 - Peterborough, Ontario

CWSF 2010 was held from May 9 to May 17. Students and adults from across Canada attended, including parents, teachers and industry and government representatives. For more information check out https://cwsf2010.ca/

2009- Winnipeg, Manitoba

CWSF 2009 was held from May 9 to May 17 at the University of Manitoba. There were 480 grade 7-12 students and 300 adults from across Canada, including parents, teachers and industry and government representatives. For more information check out http://cwsf2009.ca/en/index.html

2008- Ottawa, Ontario

CWSF 2008 was held from May 10-17th, 2008 at Ottawa University. There were many attractions to keep the students busy, but some of the best attractions was the Science and Technology BBQ,and the adventure tours. The RASC contributed funds to sponsor two awards in the Junior and Intermediate catagories.

Winner of the Junior Award for Excellence in Astronomy: Floret Herbinger of Nova Scotia.

Abstract "Tracking the Sun": This project compares the power output of a solar panel under different configurations and seasons, to see if it s more efficient to track the sun. The four configurations are fixed panel, vertical axis panel, horizontal axis panel and dual axes panel. Floret also built a simple solar tracker to rotate the panel and by doing so, follow the light.

Winners of the Intermediate Award for Excellence in Astronomy: Cody Lee O'Neil and Derek Wai Yip Ling of Kelowna, BC.

Abstract " Orbital Forcing-An Astrophysical Solution to the Puzzle of Climate Change": This project studies the effects of orbital forcing on the Earth's climate through the analysis of astrophysical cycles. Based on extensive orbital Earth's orbit to long-term climatic change, particularly ice ages. In addition, an attempt is made to relate the solar cycle of sunspots to short-term climate change associated with global warning.

2005 - Vancouver, British Columbia

CWSF 2005 held at UBC in Vancouver from May 15 to 22 was the largest to date. All 10 Provinces and 2 Territories were represented. There were also a few international students from Norway, Sweden and Taiwan. Of the initial 25,000 participants, 477 finalists, with 382 projects attended the 2005 Fair. The finalists were grouped in three categories: Junior - Grades 7/8, Intermediate - Grades 9/10 and Senior - Grades 11/12. Projects were judged in 6 scientific divisions: Biotechnology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Computing Sciences, Health Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical and Mathematical Sciences. About 10% of all projects were in French. Astronomy projects were distributed across these categories depending on their area of emphasis.

There were only two awards given - there was no entry for the intermediate category. In order to qualify, the project had to be "An outstanding project related to astronomy - observational, instrument construction, or other".

• Shelby Mielhausen for her well-researched and documented project, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", won the Junior category award. It dealt with the effects of light pollution at different sites and its deleterious effect on observing. More effective lighting fixtures (designs included in Shelby's presentation) were proposed as part of the solution for reducing light pollution. Downloadable copy available (N.B. 30 MB).
• Vancouver resident Jennifer Loong was the winner of the Senior Award for her " Oh-Dee: Orbit Determination". For determining the orbit of Asteroid (88) Thisbe, she wrote a computer program using IDL (Interactive Data Language), an array-oriented language for mathematical analyses. She used UCLA's 7-inch telescope and astrograph for the astrophotography required for her project. Her follow-up project will be to adapt her program to predict the orbit of comets. Jen's ambition is to become an astronaut and own an aerospace company. She has already discussed her work and aspirations with Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield. In the meantime, as a recipient of an annual RASC membership; she has been invited to participate in RASC-Vancouver Centre activities.

2004 - St. John's, Newfoundland

In the 2004 competition Brian Le won for his project Astrophysics for All.

• Abstract of Astrophysics for All
• Report and Bibliography of Astrophysics for All

Brian's project focused on bringing astronomy and astrophysics concepts into the middle school curriculum and was demonstrated with three experiments appropriate to this age group.

Last updated 03/11/09 kh.

2016

Intermediate
William Gadoury (St-Jean-de-Matha QC) Découverte depuis l'espace
Junior
Eungyung Kim (Prince George BC) Reconnaissance Sensory Space Glove Prototype

2015

Intermediate
Caleb Winder (Lambton County ON) Fusion + Fission = Future
Junior
Janet Dawson (Vancouver Island BC) Goodnight Sun!

2014

Intermediate
Caleb Winder (Lambton County ON) Star in a Jar
Junior
Grant Mansiere (Central Okanagan BC) Does Light Cause Crime?

2013

Intermediate
Samin Dolatabadi (Southeast Alberta) From Cosmic Rays: Matter and Anti-Matter
Junior
Connor MacLean (Sudbury ON) Using a Gravity Well as a Simulation 2.0: Planets Orbiting a Binary Star System

2012

Junior
Patrick Fraser (Avon Maitland-Huron Perth ON) The Confinable Cosmos

2011

Junior
Stacy Glasberg (Ottawa ON) The Dark Side of Light

2010

Intermediate
Sarah Battat (Montréal) Polarization: Ray Ray Go Away
Junior
Loral Christie (Bluewater ON) The Brightest Path

2009

Intermediate
Timothy Carlielle-Shaw (Central Alberta) Annular Wings vs Straight Wings Change
Junior
Johanne Jensen-LeBlanc (Central Interior BC) CBMeteor Radio II

2008

Intermediate
Cody Lee O'Neil and Derek Wai Yip Ling, Orbital Forcing: An Astrophysical Solution to the Puzzle of Climate Change
Junior
Floret Herbinger,Solar Panels

2006

Senior
Taras Pankov, Radar Telescope
Intermediate
Tavian Barnes, Simtime
Junior
Kienan Marion, A Wrinkle in Spacetime

2005

Senior
Jennifer Loong, Oh-Dee: Orbit Determination
Junior
Shelby Mielhausen, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

2004

Junior
Brian Le, Astrophysics for All

2003

Senior
Sarah Ball, Looming Large 2003
Junior
Andrea Kovesi, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?

2002

Senior
Élise Solomon, L'Ultime destin
Intermediate
Sarah Ball, Mars 2002
Junior
Johnathan Massey-Allard, Une classification céleste

2001

Senior
Francis Boulva, Galactic Champagne
Intermediate
Johnathan Shear, Sunspot Morphology and Magnetic Shear
Maran Ma, A New Eye for the Universe

2000

Senior
Heather Hughson, Vacuum Primorium
Intermediate
Johnathan Sick, Predicting Solar Energy