| Biographies |
|---|
| Nart - Ever since I've been capable of feeling a sense of curiosity towards the world around me, this curiosity has engulfed me; I like to say that I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I spend most of my time learning new things, nearly always about either science or mathematics. I'll read almost anything relating to these fields and, most of the time, it's material that most of my peers find to be incredibly dull and boring, but I can't help but to be fascinated by it. I love taking online university courses and teaching myself mathematics, physics, and chemistry. I'm not quite sure what I would like to study after high school, but I'm definitely leaning towards theoretical physics. Once I heard about the science fair, I knew I wanted to participate. The inspiration for my project came from a passage regarding the problems currently faced by the biofuel industry in a chemistry textbook. For students thinking about participating, I would recommend exploring real-world issues currently faced in the world and thinking of solutions. Once you choose an idea, be sure to budget your time effectively and not to procrastinate—it'll make your life a whole lot easier. | | Aagnik - Ever since I learned to ask questions, I've always craved for more knowledge. It's this desire to know more that lead me to work on the science fair with my partner. When my partner came across a passage in his chemistry textbook regarding the production of biofuels, I felt not only a personal curiosity but also a moral obligation to research further into this type of alternative fuel. This is because I believe the onus rests on every individual to take care of the earth, our only home. If there's any student reading this, thinking of doing a project, I strongly urge you to pursue it. All you need to get started is a little curiosity, a good idea and lots of dedication. Aside from the science fair, I take a personal interest in linguistics, philosophy and computer science. Taking my interest of programming, I founded a computer science club in my school to help my peers compete in programming contests. I am also the chief editor of the school magazine and a student tutor. In the future, I aim for a career in academia as a professor of engineering. |
| Nart Barileva, Aagnik Pant
Solvent-Based Cellulose Crystallinity Minimization to Improve Biofuel Production
| Challenge: | Energy | | Category: | Senior | | Region: | Bay Area | | City: | Oakville, ON | | School: | Abbey Park H.S. | | Abstract: | Biofuel production requires the pre-treatment of cellulosic biomass to increase glucose conversion by minimizing cellulose crystallinity. To determine the best pre-treatment, sulphuric, hydrochloric, phosphoric, and acetic acid were tested with sodium acetate as the control. The most effective treatments were sodium acetate and acetic acid; organic compounds generally out-performed mineral acids. These findings could be a potential stepping stone for further research on biofuel production. |
| Awards | Value | Excellence Award - Senior
Silver Medal
Sponsor: Youth Science Canada | $300.00 | Dalhousie University Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship
Senior Silver Medallist - $2500 Entrance Scholarship
Sponsor: Dalhousie University, Faculty of Science | $2 500.00 | UBC Science (Vancouver) Entrance Award
Senior Silver Medallist - $2000 Entrance Scholarship
Sponsor: The University of British Columbia (Vancouver) | $2 000.00 | University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
Senior Silver Medallist - $2000 Entrance Scholarship
Sponsor: University of Ottawa | $2 000.00 | Western University Scholarship
Silver Medallist - $2000 Entrance Scholarship
Sponsor: Western University | $2 000.00 | | Total | $8 800.00 | |
Print/Download as PDF