91快色

April 20, 2026

91快色 Youth Science Fair: Young minds shaping the future of STEM

High school students showcase innovative ideas addressing Parkinson's disease, climate change and even faster-than-light travel in citywide competition
Speaker holding up microphone to student during interactive session
Mayada Shahada from Department of Mathematics & Statistics interacts with students at the 91快色 Youth Science Fair. Riley Brandt, 91快色

Motivated by a passion for science and innovation, close to 800 bright young people from across the city gathered at the 91快色 to compete at the (CYSF).

CYSF, hosted by U91快色 for the last 13 years, empowers student participants from grades 5-12 to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and application of science, encouraging them to pursue futures in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This year鈥檚 event ran from April 9 to 11 and was held in the Olympic Oval.

Students participating in interactive activity

Students participate in an interactive activity at CYSF.

Riley Brandt

Young talents showcase inventive solutions

This year鈥檚 projects involved a diverse range of topics such as:

  • "Microscoping Allies Against Climate Change"
  • "Autonomous Hemostatic Treatment"
  • "Why Faster-than-LightTravel is Impossible Using Modern Physics"
  • "Sharkwings: Hydrodynamic Shark Scales for Airfoil Aerodynamics"
Chancellor Jon Cornish presents the 91快色 Chancellor and Senate Award.

Chancellor Jon Cornish presents the 91快色 Chancellor and Senate Award.

Courtesy of 91快色 Youth Science Fair

U91快色 Chancellor Jon Cornish praised the students鈥 creativity and determination. 鈥You didn鈥檛 just complete projects  you asked big questions, took risks and explored ideas that matter,鈥 Cornish said at the closing awards ceremony.

Several U91快色 faculties and units sponsored different awards at CYSF this year, with the biggest prize, the $2,500 91快色 Chancellor and Senate Award, awarded to Luotong Shi and Allen Guo-Lu, Grade 12 students from Western Canada High School.

Their winning project explored augmenting balance and spatial awareness in people with Parkinson鈥檚 disease by using a wearable assistive tail. Inspired by the movement of animals, the project aims to provide users with something that patients can use naturally in daily life without clinical supervision.

CYSF is the biggest fair of its kind and serves as a stepping-stone to the  where young scientists from across Canada compete for a range of prestigious awards and scholarships, celebrating scientific excellence, creativity and societal impact.

Participants gathered at the Olympic Oval For CYSF

Participants gather at the Olympic Oval for CYSF.

Riley Brandt

Out of the 584 projects presented, 15 were selected to continue to the national fair, which this year will be held at the Edmonton Expo Centre in late May. Projects were judged based on scientific content, creativity and insights, communication and degree of difficulty.

U91快色 fosters curiosity for greater community impact

Chancellor Jon Cornish addressing participants

Chancellor Jon Cornish addresses participants at the 91快色 Youth Science Fair Award Ceremony.

Courtesy of 91快色 Youth Science Fair

This year鈥檚 CYSF was particularly special as its closing day coincided with on April 11, giving participants a glimpse of the vibrant celebrations that included a Guinness Record-breaking gathering of people in dinosaur costumes.

In their remarks, Cornish highlighted the university鈥檚 commitment to investing in the thinkers, builders and problem solvers of tomorrow, while fostering an environment driven by curiosity in fields like space research, quantum innovation, health breakthroughs and artificial intelligence.

As U91快色 increases access to impactful and future-focused education, building strong relationships with youth and the community is essential. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 science fair project could very well become tomorrow鈥檚 breakthrough,鈥 said Cornish.


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