Science fairs

By Ken Waddell Neepawa Banner & Press

When Robyn Forsman of Neepawa was a guest speaker at the Neepawa Rotary Club meeting, she harkened back to her school days when she ventured her first entry into the local Science Fair. “It wasn’t really a good entry,” she recalled, “It was bad example.”

But now after teaching at Brookdale School for 10 years and having many years of experience with School Science Fairs at the local regional, provincial and national level, Forsman knows what it takes to have a good project as she has seen her students win prizes at all levels.

Forsman explained that students get to perform, report and demonstrate their own research. She said. “Science Fairs offer so much more than just the classroom experience.”

Each year, Brookdale holds a Grades 1-8 Science Fair. Winners go on to the regional Westman Science Fair which is judged by independent judges including people from Brandon University. There are nine committee members, over 400 kids involved and up to 100 judges. The students get tours of the university, lunch, and entertainment. There are 100 Science Fair regions across Canada. Forsman now serves nationally and is very high on the obvious advantages of students participating in the Science Fair programs.