SAYS (The Society for the Advancement of Young Scientists) is a non-profit society which organizes the Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair. Our members are youth advocates from government, academia, schools and businesses.

The Objectives of SAYS:

• to foster scientific inquiry among young people;
• to help young scientists demonstrate their research; and,
• to provide young scientists with professional feedback.

What SAYS does:

• organizes the Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair;
• arranges judges to assess participants and to offer supportive critiques of their work;
• selects students to represent the Region in the annual Canada¬Wide Science Fair; and,
• provides resources for teachers to support student projects.

 The Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair is one of thirteen regional Science Fairs run throughout British Columbia with the support of volunteers, local donors and the Science Fair Science Fair Foundation BC. We are FoundationBCmembers of Youth Science Canada.

2011 is the Year of Science in British Columbia
The Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair is part of the BC Government Year of Science initiative. Get Involved in Science this year! Participating in your local Science Fair is a great way to get involved in science!

Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair:
Our Fiftieth Year - Our Alumni Remember

1977 - John Blenkinsopp - The science fair instilled a sense of inquiry in me that is still alive today. 1 started out in pure research and then moved into applied practice in healthcare. Science fairs helped ingrain a spirit of continual learning.

1987 - Ken Ozard - I design integrated circuits and RF modules at a company in New Jersey. Those RF power amplifiers are used in many brands of cellular phones and smart phones. Yes, without a doubt, my science fair experience was useful.

1994/1996 - Harmeet Chhina - 1 currently work as a Senior Research Scientist at Automotive Fuel Cell Co-operation (ajoint research company between Daimler, Ford and Ballard). 1 often talk about my science fair experiences and how inspiring it was, not only to enter the fair but to actually win and get some great experiences.

1996 - Sarah Cormier (Baxter) - 1 was in Grade 10 when 1 won an award which allowed me to go on to the Canada-Wide Science Fair. It was a wonderful, useful experience to speak about my project to so many different people of all ages and backgrounds.

1997 - Katherine Banner-Martin - 1 looked forward to science fair every single year, as an opportunity to creatively apply what was taught to us in the science curriculum and to simply have fun. Science fair inspires confidence in oneself and one's ideas.

2001/2002 - Yichuan Wang - Congratulations VIRSF on your 50th birthday! VIRSF provided an excellent opportunity for my peers and me to embark on a self-directed adventure to solve a problem of interest and importance through thorough investigation. Receiving critical feedback and encouragement from our judges helped us to improve and motivated us to continue to pursue our passion for research and problem-solving.

Help young people discover the world of science and engineering.

We rely on donations and volunteers to make the Science Fair such a great event.

How can you help?

• Join SAYS, help run the Fair or be a Judge;
• donate to send students to Canada-Wide Science Fair; and,
• sponsor a cash prize or donate merchandise.

Contact us!

President: Dr. Randy Enkin
renkin@nrcan.gc.ca

Please Donate!

Treasurer: Dr. Gerry Poulton
gpoulton@uvic.ca
Department of Chemistry
University of Victoria,
P.O. Box 3065,
Victoria, BC V8W 3V6

Please make cheques payable to the Society for the Advancement of Young Scientists
Tax receipts are available.
All sponsorship is acknowledged on the web site, on all programs and advertising material, and at the award ceremonies.

The Canada-Wide Science Fair

Who goes to the Canada-Wide Science Fair?

The Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair has been sending a team to the Canada-Wide Science Fair every year since it was founded in 1962!

The top projects in Grades 7 to 12 represent our region at the national fair. We send up to 7 students, depending on funding. They join 450 other students for a week of exhibits and science education. Many of our students come home with awards and university entrance scholarships. All our students come home excited about opportunities in science, engineering and medicine in Canada.

How have our students done recently at the Canada-Wide Science Fair? ... WOW!

2011 - Toronto: Silver Medals - Junior & Intermediate; Bronze Medals - Senior & Intermediate; Actuarial Foundation of Canada Award.

2010 - Peterborough: Silver Medal - Senior; Manning Innovation Achievement Award.

2009 - Winnipeg: Gold medal - Intermediate; Silver medal - Intermediate; Bronze medal - Junior.

2008 - Ottawa: Gold Medal - Senior; Canadian Association of Physics Prize - Senior; Honourable Mention - Intermediate.