May 26 2022 – One of the three projects from area high school students won a bronze medal at the Virtual Canada Wide Science Fair (University of New Brunswick, Fredericton) on May 20th. Nuala Gibbs, a grade 8 student from Iona Academy, won a bronze medal in the Junior division for her project “L’impact du climat: Exploration de l’énergie éolienne”. Nuala was also awarded a $1,000 entrance scholarship to Western University.
Nuala’s project explored how the shape and size of a wind turbine’s blades have an impact on the efficiency of energy production. She constructed a prototype and tested various blade sizes and shapes.
Nuala was joined on the regional United Counties team by two other projects: Isabella McEvoy-Meikle & Raven Wang, grade 11 students from CCVS, and their project “CO2 Refrigerant”, as well as Anya Crispin & Yumna Haque, grade 8 students from Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School, and their project “Defeating the Bacteria Criteria”. The five students formed the United Counties Science Fair 2022 team when they were awarded the all-expenses paid, week-long virtual experience to attend the Virtual Canada Wide Science Fair after being selected as the top three projects at the regional United Counties Science Fair in April (photo attached, top left to right: Isabella McEvoy-Meikle, Raven Wang, Nuala Gibbs, bottom left to right: Yumna Haque and Anya Crispin).
“United Counties Science Fair hopes this will inspire other youth in our region and show that such opportunities are available at the regional and national level,” said Jason Marshall, Chair of the United Counties Science Fair.
Mike O’Neil, the delegate and team leader of the five United Counties finalists said: “these five students are now a part of a growing community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for their projects and the curiosity necessary to make the impossible – possible, through experimentation and research. My hat’s off to all of them!”
For over forty-six years, the United Counties Science Fair has been one of the few forums in the region where students meet other students and area professionals who share common interests related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Regional participants also compete for approximately $7,000 in cash, awards, scholarships and trips. The regional fair is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to encourage students to explore the many fields of science, and to develop critical thinking, literacy and reasoning skills.
For more information about the United Counties Science Fair, email info@ucsci.org and visit
