Canada’s top youth scientists awarded $1.3 million at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton

Fredericton, June 5, 2025 – From groundbreaking schizophrenia treatment research to innovative sea turtle robots, Canada’s top young scientists showcased world-class research and innovation this week at the 63rd Canada-Wide Science Fair. At an awards ceremony this evening at the University of New Brunswick, 219 finalists were recognized with nearly $1.3 million in scholarships and awards at the country’s premier youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event. The fair’s Best Project Award in Discovery went to Sara Waqas from Calgary for her project, “Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach”, while the Best Project in Innovation went to Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for his project “Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI”.

“This week, we’ve witnessed the power of youth curiosity in action,” said Reni Barlow, Executive Director at Youth Science Canada, organizers of the event. “Every student who undertakes a STEM project deserves to be celebrated for their dedication and creativity. Tonight’s winners are a powerful example of the impact youth can make through STEM.”

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Top winners, selected by over 200 judges, include:

Best Project Awards

Best Project: Discovery

Sara Waqas from Calgary, Alberta, for Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach.

Link to project

Best Project: Innovation

Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI.

Link to project

Platinum Awards – Discovery

Best Junior (Grade 7/8)

Claire Sehn from Peterborough, Ontario, for Beat the Blaze: Preventing Wildfires and Drought With a Novel, Biodegradable Treatment.

Link to project

Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep)

Hejin Wang from Saint John, New Brunswick, for Controlling Humongous Fungus: Cyanobacteria as a Biocontrol Agent for Root Rot Fungus.

Link to project

Platinum Awards – Innovation

Best Junior (Grade 7/8)

Trisha Haldar from Windsor, Ontario, for Visual Drug Interaction Checker.

Link to project

Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep)

Chloe Rae Filion and Sophie Rose Filion from Fenwick, Ontario, for The Home Smog Alarm: How clean is your home’s air?

Link to project

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The 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair featured 390 student finalists, from Grade 7 through Cégep, showcasing 339 projects. The event drew more than 5,000 visitors and more than 30,000 online viewers. The Canada-Wide Science Fair and STEM Expo continue in person at the University of New Brunswick tomorrow, Friday, June 6, until 2:30 p.m. ADT, with projects remaining online for public viewing afterward.

The 64^th edition of the Canada-Wide Science Fair will be held at the Edmonton EXPO Centre and the University of Alberta from May 23 to 30, 2026.

Members of the public are invited to meet the best project and platinum award winners on Friday, June 6, at 8:30 a.m. ADT in the Richard J. Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick. The panel discussion will also be broadcast live.

https://cwsf-espc.link/2025-meet-the-winners

Media members are encouraged to participate.

Winners will be available for media interviews throughout the week of June 9, 2025, by contacting Mary Moniz at [email protected].

Photos and videos, as well as the complete list of Canada-Wide Science Fair award recipients, are available here: CWSF 2025 Media Kit

Best Project Award winners on stage at the Canada-Wide Science Fair awards ceremony, June 5, 2025, in Fredericton. Pictured (left to right): Pat Trottier, President of the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation, Sara Waqas, Evan Budz, and Reni Barlow, Executive Director of Youth Science Canada.

PHOTO: Youth Science Canada.

Best project award winners and platinum award winners during the Canada-Wide Science Fair awards ceremony on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Aitken University Centre in Fredericton. From left to right; Pat Trottier, President of the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation, Evan Budz from Burlington, ON, Sara Waqas from Calgary, AB, Chloe Rae Filion and Sophie Rose Filion from Fenwick, ON, Trisha Haldar from Windsor, ON, Hejin Wang from Saint John, NB, Claire Sehn from Peterborough, ON, and Reni Barlow, Executive Director of Youth Science Canada.

PHOTO: Youth Science Canada.

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About Youth Science Canada

Youth Science Canada empowers all Canadian youth to engage their curiosity in discovering and innovating through STEM projects. A registered charity incorporated in 1966, YSC delivers on its mission through national programs, including mySTEMspace, the National STEM Fair Network, Canada-Wide Science Fair, STEM Expo, Team Canada representation at international fairs and Smarter Science professional development for teachers. Through these programs, YSC directly supports the more than 500,000 students who do STEM projects in any given year. For more information, visit youthscience.ca.

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