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national science fair

Science project examines drinking water

DARREN SHIELDS of North
Vancouver’s Carisbrooke ele-
mentary school was recently
selected to be one of nine stu-
dents to represent B.C, in the
Canada-wide Science Fair.

By Jeanne Portelance
Contributing Writer

Approximately 200 participants
competed for recognition and
Shields was selected from one of
the North Shore Invitational
Science Fairs to compete in the
April 7 to 9 Greater Vancouver
Regional Fair, which is one of the
largest in Canada.

Of more than 100 regional sci-
ence fairs being held across
Canada, only a few students with
exceptional talent are selected to
participate in the Canada-wide
Science Fair, held this year in
Guelph, Ontario, May 14 to 22.

Sheilds’ project “Drinking
Water ... or Primordial Soup”
explored the differences between
two watersheds, Capilano and
Seymour,

Shields sampled water from dif-
ferent areas on the North Shore
‘with known water shed sources.

“In my project I am studying
the changes in the Lower Mainland
drinking water, as it flows from the
source to the end of the distribu-
tion system, from the Capilano and
Seymour Watersheds. I am also
looking for the differences
between the two distribution sys-
tems,” Shields explains.

He is very aware of the recent
controversy in the uses of chlo-
ramine and regards changing chlo-
tine content in the water supply as
an area for study,

“The factors [am examining
are alkalinity, temperature, metal
concentration and pH. All these
factors may contribute to the
increased growth of bacteria from

66 He concluded at
the end of his research
that the Seymour dis-
tribution system for
drinking water was
‘definitely the better
system.’ 99

the source to the distribution end. I
am culturing bacteria from differ-
ent sites in the water distribution
system to determine which factors
actually effect the growth of bacte-
ria.”

Shields sampled water from
points as close to the source as
possible, midway and at the end of
both systems.

With the help of Analytical
Service Laboratory (ASL) near
TRIUMF, Shields tested for turbid-
ity and some trace metals.

He concluded at the end of his

research that the Seymour distribu-
tion system for drinking water was
“definitely the better system,”

Besides going to the Canada-

wide Science Fair, Shields was
also a gold medalist and recipient
of the Atomic Energy of Canada
Lid. Award,
i Mare Holland of Maplewood
Elementary received an
Honourable Mention for his pro-
ject on “Column Design in Bridges
to Resist Earthquakes,”

Holland compared the Lion's
Gate Bridge to the Alex Fraser
Bridge noting that the latter
bridge’s pillars are on solid
ground, which makes it less sus-
ceptible to the shifts in the earth
than those of the Lion's Gate
which are in water.
fi Elizabeth McKellar of Braemar
Elementary received a gold medal
for her work on tornadoes as well
as the Apple Canada award.

She was pleased to note that
although we may have concerns
about earthquakes, we are a very
low-risk area for tornadoes!

The North Shore was well rep-
resented by children in the junior
categories but did not have any
entries in the intermediate or
senior levels. The Science Fair is
open to children frem Grades 6-12.

The categories include life sci-
ences, engincering sciences, physi-
cal sciences and computer sci-
ences, Awards and scholarships are
often available to students compet-
ing in the senior levels. It will be
interesting to watch our Scientist's
of tomorrow in future science fairs.

“uty

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Photo submitted
DARREN SHIELDS displays a culture sample that is part of his
sclence project on the North Shore's drinking water. The
Carisbrooke Elementary student is one of nine students to rep-
resent B.C. at the Canada-wide Science Fair In Guelph, Ontario.

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