LAKELAND – A development in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education is going on in the Lakeland, as the St. Paul & District STEAM Society (SPDSS) spearheads the Lakeland region's first independent regional science fair.
Registrations for the first independent science fair in the Lakeland is called the Lakeland STEAMXcape 2024, set to take place on April 6, are now open for Grade 4 to 12 students.
This is Lakeland’s first regional entry into Youth Science Canada’s national science fair in 70 years. Registration will remain open until March 1.
Students can choose to participate in the Lakeland STEAMXcape via two streams. One is the Explorers’ Stream, for Grade 4-12 students wanting to explore scientific projects “without the pressure of competition,” said Khurram Abbasi, president of SPDSS.
The other is the Challengers’ Stream, “aimed at students in Grades 7-12, offers a competitive pathway potentially leading to national-level participation,” said Abbasi.
SPDSS collaborated with four school boards, St. Paul Education, Conseil Scolaire Centre-Est, Northern Lights School Division, and Lakeland Catholic School Division, opening access to the regional science fair to over 13,000 students across northeastern Alberta.
The winning group from the fair will be heading to a national science fair.
The national science fair, known as the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), is annually hosted by Youth Science Canada. It brings students from across the nation together to celebrate STEAM.
Abbasi says that previously, students from northeastern Alberta who wanted to take part in the national science fair would have to travel and compete in other regional science fairs, like in Edmonton.
This can be a barrier, he says. “So, a lot of kids from our region do not actually participates at all.”
So, SPDSS worked to create its own regional science fair.
“Us becoming a region means the top four students [from the regional science fair], we can send them directly to the nationals.”
Abbasi said SPDSS launched a mentorship program to participants, and other supports include workshops for teachers and self-guided sessions for students, “ensuring comprehensive guidance.”
He added, “No kid should feel unsupported in their scientific journey.”
During the regional science fair, there will also be a STEAM symposium, where sponsors, stakeholders, scientists, and experts in the STEAM field, will come to engage with students and educators in the region.
"Lakeland STEAMXcape is more than a science fair. It's a symposium that will gather scientists, innovative companies, educators, parents, and students under one roof. The event will feature keynotes, panel discussions, interactive STEAM sessions, and science project exhibits, creating a comprehensive STEAM ecosystem,” said Abbasi.
First Anniversary
Abbasi also looked back on some achievements of SPDSS in 2023.
2023 marks SPDSS’ first anniversary, following their inception in November 2022. It was a year “filled with technological exploration and community growth,” said Abbasi, with the organization offering over 30 STEM and STEAM workshops and serving more than 100 students.
He mentioned that SPDSS’ inaugural Interdistrict science fair in April 2023 had 17 schools and two school boards register 60 students.
Abbasi also acknowledged Portage College’s partnership, making a STEAM lab possible. “The St. Paul and District Innovation Lab hosted at Portage College St. Paul Campus opened its doors in April 2023 and has been a hub for young creators and STEAMers,” he said.
“The Lab has embraced experiential learning, with students undertaking projects like recreating St. Paul digitally, simulating NASA Artemis-inspired space missions, and engaging with 3D printing, DIY drones, self-driving cars, Python programming, and Raspberry Pi robotics.”
A “sophisticated irrigation system” was also built using Raspberry Pi computers and sensors, helping students improve their skills in agricultural technology and logistics.
Also, “the assembly of DIY drones have opened new avenues in agricultural technology, while DIY self-driving cars has helped them explore logistics and delivery through starting to build a self-driving delivery robot,” said Abbasi.
