| Biography |
|---|
| My name is Luca Menard, and I am a grade seven student at King’s Town School in Kingston, Ontario. Throughout the year I participate on a First Lego League (FLL) robotics team. This year we earned the opportunity to go to the Ontario East Provincial Championships. I head a robotics club at my school and am the layout editor and comic inker/editor of the school newspaper. During the summer months I enjoy kayaking, sailing and swimming. In fall and winter, I appreciate snow sports like alpine and cross-country skiing and I also curl at a curling club. In my spare time you can find me with my nose in a book. I love reading. Someday I would like to be an aerospace engineer. I was inspired to undertake this project because I wanted to use it as an opportunity to learn more about aerodynamics and 3D design. I have partaken in three regional science fairs. This is my first CWSF and I am excited about the possibilities it will hold for me. My piece of advice to other young scientists is to choose a topic that truly interests you. |
| Luca Ménard
Harnessing Nature’s Power
| Challenge: | Energy | | Category: | Junior | | Region: | Frontenac, Lennox & Addington | | City: | Kingston, ON | | School: | King's Town School | | Abstract: | Biomimicry is used to improve engineering designs.I designed, produced and tested nature inspired wind turbine blades in a controlled wind tunnel. Using CAD software, I modelled and 3-D printed: whale tubercle, maple key, rigid and flexible dragonfly blades. The flexible dragonfly design blade outperformed at all wind speeds. Other designs performed inferior to a commercial blade. Nature inspired inventions can outperform conventional commercial designs. |
| Awards | Value | Excellence Award - Junior
Bronze Medal
Sponsor: Youth Science Canada | | Western University Scholarship
Bronze Medallist - $1000 Entrance Scholarship
Sponsor: Western University | $1 000.00 | | Total | $1 000.00 | |
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