HPCVL 2009 Science Fair Contest for the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and Ottawa Science Fairs

April 3-4, 2009

Description & Guidelines

HPCVL stands for the High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory (www.hpcvl.org), a cluster of fast and powerful computers at five Ontario universities and two colleges (Carleton University, Queen's University, The Royal Military College of Canada, University of Ottawa, Ryerson University, Seneca College in Toronto, and Loyalist College in Belleville). In addition to reliable, secure computing, HPCVL provides storage resources and support for over 130 Canadian research groups, comprised of over 600 researchers working in a variety of fields.

As part of this outreach program, HPCVL would like to extend an opportunity to all students in grades 7 to 12, participating in either the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Science Fair (FLASF) or the Ottawa Regional Science Fair (ORSF), who may have an interest or a need to use High Performance Computing in their project.

We ask any interested and eligible students to complete a one-page proposal here for your intended science fair project. We are looking for projects in a wide range of subjects, from IT to chemistry, from psychology to mathematics. The proposal must be submitted to us by Friday, February 20, 2008.

Based upon the project proposals, HPCVL will select one winner from each the ORSF and FLASF groups. We will then provide the winning student with some technical help, and help him or her find an appropriate researcher in the field from one of our member institutions, or a user support person.

The mentor will contact the student to determine what resources are required, and meet in person as needed to support work on the project. The mentor will provide guidance and direction, and give access, within reason, to relevant equipment, computers, and software for the project in question.

The final work presented at the Fair must be completed by the student. The mentor's role will be to provide support, guidance, and access to equipment that may not otherwise be available, as opposed to actually doing the work for the student.

Eligibility

• You are a student officially registered in either the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Science Fair (FLASF) or the Ottawa Regional Science Fair (ORSF)

• You are a student currently in grade 7 through 12 (inclusive)

• You will need some kind of guidance or technical support in your project

Background

Youth Science Foundation Canada (being the organization who governs the two science fairs) states that "Working with a mentor is a powerful way for young people to access the world of professional science and engineering. Helping to forge connections between young scientists and educators, professionals, and research scientists can catalyze new ideas and light a fire that becomes a life's work or simply creates communities of shared interest."

Contact Information

Please submit your project proposal to HPCVL by February 20, 2008 in one of the following ways:

Attn: “Science Fair Project Contest”

Email: hpcvl@queensu.ca

Fax: 613-533-2015

Mail: HPCVL

993 Princess St, Unit 115

Kingston, ON

K7L 1H3