HDSB Students Shine at 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair

August 16, 2025

News Releases

Students from the Halton District School Board (HDSB) achieved outstanding success at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), held from June 1–6 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The CWSF is Canada’s largest annual youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event. For more than 60 years, the CWSF has united young thinkers from across Canada to present their research and innovations, compete for prestigious awards and engage with like-minded peers who are passionate about discovery and innovation.

This year, 11 students from HDSB elementary and secondary schools earned 40 awards across a range of categories, recognizing excellence in innovation and research. Highlights of HDSB student achievements include:

Evan Budz, Grade 9 student at Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School for Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI

Best Project Award – Innovation
The Beaty Centre for Species Discovery Award
Excellence Award – Gold
Challenge Award – Environment and Climate Change
Youth Can Innovate Award
European Union Contest for Young Scientists
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Lohitaksh, Grade 8 student at Bruce Trail Public School for Q-CaDD: Accelerating In Silico Methodologies with Quantum Computation and Machine Learning for EGFR

The Actuarial Foundation of Canada Award
Excellence Award – Silver
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Anish Rathod, Grade 12 student at Burlington Central High School for PIONEER: Pipe Inspection and Observation for Non-Destructive Evaluation and Environmental Review

Engineering Innovation Award
Excellence Award – Silver
Dalhousie University Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
University of New Brunswick Canada-Wide Science Fair Scholarship
University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Jasmine Wang, Grade 10 student at Iroquois Ridge High School for Wildfire Prediction and Detection: Custom Data Pipeline, Transformer Model, and Web App integration

Intact Climate Change Resilience Award
Excellence Award – Silver
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Eva Duan and Taeyeon Eum, Grade 10 students at Oakville Trafalgar High School for InfectAlert: pH Sensitive Burn Wound Hydrogel Dressing

Excellence Award – Bronze
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Claire Marsh, Grade 11 student at M.M. Robinson High School for Autism Identification Tool: An AI Approach to Reducing Diagnostic Barriers

Excellence Award – Bronze
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Vivaan and Rahul, Grade 8 students at W. H. Morden Public School for The Power of Pectin: Attenuating Toxic By-Products for Enhanced Hydrogel Drug Delivery

Excellence Award – Silver
Challenge Award – Disease and Illness
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Imran Allarakhia, Grade 9 student at Abbey Park High School for CareBotix in Motion, Leveraging Advanced Imitation Learning and VLA Models for Humanoid Robotics

Excellence Award – Gold
Challenge Award – Digital Technology
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
Western University Entrance Scholarship

Maria Polyanska, Grade 9 student at Garth Webb Secondary School for PicoTrack: Solar Powered Real-Time Monitoring of Near-Stratospheric Conditions

Excellence Award – Gold
Youth Can Innovate Award
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
Western University Entrance Scholarship

The impressive results at the Canada-Wide Science Fair reflect the strength of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning across the HDSB. With students from a variety of schools represented, these achievements highlight how the HDSB fosters curiosity, encourages innovation and provides meaningful opportunities that help students develop their passions and deepen their learning.

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“The Halton District School Board is incredibly proud of our students, not only for their exceptional achievements at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, but for the creativity, commitment and innovative thinking they have demonstrated through their projects,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the HDSB. “These accomplishments reflect the outstanding talent of our students in STEM and the critical role this learning plays in sparking curiosity and innovation. In alignment with our Multi-Year Strategic Plan, students are connecting what they learn to real-world challenges – equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 67,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.

For additional information, contact: Haley Juniper, Manager of Communications & Engagement
communications@hdsb.ca | 905-335-3663, Toll free: 1-877-618-3456