News Archive
Students Prepare for Japan Super Science Fair
Two Shawnigan students have combined their passion for science with their love of figure skating for a project that they will present at the prestigious Japan Super Science Fair in early November.
Grade 11 students Selina G. and Grace Z. are preparing to travel with teacher Ms. Jasmine Bal to Kyoto, where they will present their report, “Determining the Physics and Mechanics Behind a Perfect Quadruple Axel.” Both students are figure skaters, which drove their interest in the project. A quadruple axel had never been landed in competition until September 20 of this year, after the girls had already done the experiment portion of their research, but 17-year-old Ilia Malinin’s successful jump at the U.S. International Classic added something unexpected to the discussion section of their paper.
A true international event, this year’s edition of the Japan Super Science Fair will feature more than 30 schools representing 18 countries, including host Japan. Shawnigan is the only Canadian school taking part this year. As part of Shawnigan’s commitment to academic excellence, this is the School’s seventh consecutive year participating. It is a big deal to be invited in the first place, says Ms. Bal, and this year’s event is even more highly anticipated as it returns to in-person presentations after going virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s going to be an exciting year, being back in person again,” Ms. Bal says.
The students and Ms. Bal will leave for Japan on October 29. They will spend their first day in Osaka as tourists, then arrive in Kyoto on October 31. The science fair, hosted by Ritsumeikan High School in Kyoto, runs from November 1-5. In addition to two presentations of their research and a poster exhibition, the Selina and Grace will get to attend talks and guest lectures, and take part in opening and closing ceremonies, a cultural exchange, lab tours — and dinner and shopping.
“We are all looking forward to going through town and trying all the good food,” Ms. Bal said with a laugh. “All of us agreed that’s the No. 1 thing. And the girls really want to go shopping in Japan.”
Ms. Bal, who studied agriculture at UBC and oversees the Growing Dome at Shawnigan, was invited to be a judge in the environmental science and biology categories. As is the case with the students, this is Ms. Bal’s first high school science fair, and she is excited for the opportunity to take part, and for the chance to see the University Farm at Kyoto Prefectural University.
The Japan Super Science Fair is not a competition, but students do get feedback from the judges, and it will help Selina and Grace prepare for the Vancouver Island Science Fair in April, which is a competition, potentially followed by provincials and nationals.
Best of luck to Selina, Grace and Ms. Bal in Japan!
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Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
