We are extremely pleased to have the newsletter section of our website operational. We encourage all regions to check this section from time to time to become more familiar with the fair, which we are all eagerly anticipating. We hope you will find it informative.

Any comments or suggestions may be forwarded to Garry Jeffrey, Communications Co-Chair, at gjeffrey@shaw.ca.

Theme for CWSF-2003

Our theme for CWSF - 2003 is "Exploring Science Frontiers." We have many plans to bring this theme to life throughout the Fair. Stay tuned for the announcement of many special events.

CWSF-2003 Office

The CWSF-2003 Organizing Committee has established an office to assist regions as they plan for this year's fair. Ms. Kate Leatherbarrow, our Special Assistant would be pleased to answer your inquiries. The office is located at #700, 999 - 8 St SW in Calgary. You can contact Kate at (403) 802-7708 or by e-mail at kleather@ucalgary.ca.

A Message from our Organizing Committee

Howdy from Calgary!

We are pleased to welcome you to our first edition of the Canada-Wide Science Fair 2003 Newsletter Update. We hope you will visit this site often to stay informed about the latest developments and special events planned for your stay in Calgary.

Our theme for this year's Canada-Wide Science Fair is Exploring Science Frontiers. The dictionary defines a frontier as the outer limit of achievement." Of course, many of us think of Calgary as existing on the western frontier---land that was originally discovered by explorers (?) and settled by fur traders and hardy pioneers. But science fair finalists are also explorers, of a new and different set of frontiers. The frontiers of space, genetics, medical science, and new technologies in physics and chemistry all beckon to those of you with curious minds, with the desire to look beyond what is known, and with the creativity to imagine the possibilities.

Our Logo represents the orbit of electrons around a nucleus, with the orbital paths forming a stylized cowboy hat, the symbol of Calgary and our western spirit.

The host committee is comprised of over 70 volunteers, many of whom have been working very hard during the last few years to plan a memorable Canada-Wide Science Fair. Their efforts will help ensure that the activities we have planned for your stay will be part of a great western experience.

To all science fair participants from across Canada, we wish you the very best in your science work and hope that you will be fortunate enough to be one of the finalists selected to come to the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Calgary from May 10th - 18th, 2003.

See you soon, pardner!

Fraser Head and Terry Allen
Co-Chairmen, Organizing Committee

International Baccalaureate Exams at the Canada-Wide Science Fair

There may be students at your regional science fairs who are participating in the International Baccalaureate program in their schools. If these students are selected as finalists to attend the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Calgary during the week of May 10th - 18th, 2003, please be aware of the following:

1. The Host Committee in Calgary has made arrangements with the
International Baccalaureate Organization to allow IB students to
write their exams in Calgary at one of the Calgary IB schools.

2. If an IB student is selected to attend the CWSF then:

(a) The first step in obtaining permission for the student to write exams in Calgary is to discuss this with the IB coordinator in the students' school.
(b) The IB Coordinator must then contact the International Baccalaureate Curriculum and Assessment 0ffice to obtain permission for the student to write their exams at the Canada-Wide Science Fair site.
(c) Once the assessment office has given permission for the exams to be written in Calgary then the RSF delegate should be in touch with Terry Allen, Co-Chairman to provide details on the student(s) who will be writing the exams. Terry will then work with the IB coordinator to ensure that the needs of the IB student are met while in Calgary.
(d) Provide the name of the student, name of the school and the IB Coordinator's e-mail address to facilitate communication.

For clarification or further information please contact Terry Allen at tallen@cwsf2OO3.org

Please note that it is important that IB students not feel pressured to attend the Canada-Wide Science Fair. There are numerous activities and possible distractions for students that might create undue pressure on them at the CWSF. At the same time many of the IB students who have attended the CWSF have often been among the top winners and are usually successful in their exams.

Schedule of Events

Our schedule of events is still in draft format but with each passing week, the plan of activities is becoming more detailed. We will indicate the final schedule upon its completion.

Judging at the Canada-Wide Science Fair

Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is the national championships of the National Science Fair Program, a competition hosting national finalists selected by nearly 100 Youth Science Fairs (YSF). These are affiliated Regional Science Fairs from across the country. The primary goals of the CWSF are to bring together Canada's top young scientists, to benchmark personal scientific and technological achievements of peers and to enjoy a positive science experience.

Judging of a project at the CWSF is the culmination of the long road that started with the formation of a scientific idea, research and investigation into that idea, and progress through a series of competitions at local and regional levels. At the two-day national judging, the projects are judged for Divisional Awards on the first day, and for Special Awards and Grand Awards on the second day.

Divisional awards recognize excellence in one of six divisions of science and technology. The divisions are: Biotechnology, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. Within each division, projects are judged in three school grades categories: junior, intermediate and senior.

Judging in all divisions and categories is based on scientific thought (45 points), original creativity (25 points), display (20 points) and a written report (10 points). Judging of the scientific thought portion, carrying the maximum weight, requires special attention. The projects are divided into three types - experiments, innovations and studies. Although all three types of projects are equally eligible for awards at the CWSF, the scientific thought portion of the project is judged according to criteria specific to that type. The evaluation system permits judges to incorporate both the quality of the young scientist's work, and the project's difficulty and sophistication in assessing the mark. Divisional Awards consist of gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as a certain number of Honorable Mentions.

Special Awards recognize excellence in a specific aspect of a scientific discipline, division, or the scientific/design/innovation process within sponsor-defined criteria. They reflect the special interests of the sponsoring foundations, companies and professional associations and include cash prizes, scholarships, summer employment and participation in science research programs or competitions.

All participants can self-nominate for up to seven Special Awards based on the award criteria. Projects that have been self-nominated for a Special Award are eligible to be judged for that award.

Projects are judged based on the criteria for each award. The judges have to ensure that the project also meets any conditions that may be attached to the award.

Grand Awards recognize the top projects at the CWSF. The Gold Medal winners from each age category are eligible for the YSF Canada Platinum Awards - the best junior, intermediate and senior projects. From the three Platinum Awards recipients, one project is awarded the YSF Canada Best-in-Fair Award. This is the pinnacle of achievement for young Canadian scientists, capping the entire local, regional and national science fair program.

Explore all the Frontiers of the Canada-Wide Science Fair

In spirit with Calgary's frontier history and to celebrate the truly amazing discoveries that you, the next generation of scientists have made, this year's Canada Wide Science Fair gets you to explore the frontiers of science. We invite you to take in the special events that let you and your fellow scientists uncover the past and imagine the future. From a truly Calgary welcome, to seeing the planet from a different point of view we hope you will gain insight into the different ways that people explore the frontiers of science.

You certainly won't be alone on this journey! In true spirit with our proud heritage we will be divvying up all the participants (including the delegates!) into one of ten Ranches. And like all good ranches you will have to work hard to earn your brands.

Here's what you get to do: every morning you pick a new card. Throughout the day as you go to different activities, from eating lunch to learning to line dance, you earn brand stamps for your ranch. More brands = more stuff to put on your Ranch. We've got everything from cows to tractors and you want to get as much as possible because we're giving out prizes!

But wait, there's more. If you're spotted doing something in the spirit of the fair by one of our 'Cowboys' you can earn mega brands. Then visit the general store in the Bull Pen and turn those brands in and get something extra special for your Ranch.

So grab your jeans and come on out and explore the frontiers of science with us!