Three TFA students off to Canada-Wide Science Fair

By: Peri De Marchi

Three talented students representing The Fernie Academy are being sent to the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) Nationals in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Claire Couture (Grade 8), Clara Michal (Grade 9) and Annaliese Froehler (Grade 10) have put many months into their studies, preparing for what is going to be an unforgettable experience. 

Annaliese Froehler, 15, shares “I expect to have lots of fun, make new friends and learn a lot.”

Annaliese will be competing for the third time at Nationals and hopes to meet new people that will share the experience with her. During Annaliese's second time competing, she was awarded a scholarship to SHAD Canada, which is a month-long program with university level STEAM and entrepreneurship programs and mentors. Annaliese plans on attending this summer. She has created a study with the intention to promote tourism in the Elk Valley with a commercial electroencephalography (EEG) headset in response to a video. An EEG is a device that can measure the electrical signals elicited by the brain.  Two additional scholarships to universities were awarded to her as well. She plans to pursue a STEM degree in post-secondary education. 

Claire Couture, 14, is in her first year at TFA and has already been to Science Fair Regionals. 

“My friends and judges at TFA’s science fair encouraged me to go to Regionals and try something new,” Claire remarked.

A gold medal was brought home with her after her first time there, along with a $100 certificate for the ‘Improving Human Health Award’. Claire's study was complex, focusing on creating a sensory regulating wristband for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder with the goal of improving the daily lives of autistic individuals. Claire has never done something like this in her previous education but has found interest with plans to have a career down this path.

Another talented individual Clara Michal,13, is also in her first year at TFA, and has also achieved great things. Like her peer Annaliese, she will spend a month enjoying the SHAD program that she has won a scholarship for. The ‘Well Executed Study Award’ was also given to her during Regionals. Clara said she was inspired by her uncle who is a physics professor at UBC, and her mother who have both shared their science knowledge with her.

Clara comments, “I’m not anticipating to win any awards or be outstanding, it’s all about the experience that comes along with it”.

Clara plans for a career in a science related field and is excited for the Nationals experience. Her project compares water treatment methods with Petri dish cultures. This is important as clean water is crucial to health and well being, despite not always being available. 

 These three determined TFA students are on their way to a great experience that will help them further pursue their goals of science education in their future. They all agree that the experience of Regionals and the upcoming experience of Nationals is an exciting feeling with lots of opportunities up ahead.