Please note that the 2011 competition is now closed. After careful deliberation, the Review Panel determined that none of this year’s submissions met all the required criteria. Even though the prize will not be awarded this year, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the applicants for their submissions.
For the past five years, environmental issues have held Kimberly’s attention. Through her science-related activities, she has been able to develop innovation and research skills that have allowed her to raise awareness of environmental issues in her community.
Kimberly Gulevich’s winning project explores the use of methane capture as a way to provide energy to small rural households that use sewage lagoons. A clean form of energy and a renewable resource, methane could potentially help reduce the carbon footprint of these households. The judges were not only impressed by Kimberly’s tenacity in testing her theories, but her ability to gather support from local business and community leaders for her project. While a small-scale household methane capture system is still in the very early stages of development, Kimberly demonstrates how science is a process of testing and re-testing in order to move towards a goal. Perhaps some day, methane capture will be used to help families in developing countries supplement their energy needs. Congratulations, Kimberly!
“I was thrilled to receive the Weston Youth Innovation Award. Through my project, I worked with my community to develop a methane capture system for a household sewage lagoon. This project has not only allowed me to research alternative, renewable fuel sources, but also bring awareness of environmental issues to my community. I have also been able to promote the use of waste materials as energy sources.”
The Weston Youth Innovation Award is generously supported by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and is administered by the Ontario Science Centre