Divisional Judging is the more formal of the two, evaluating work for creativity and scientific merit. It results in the awarding of gold, silver and bronze medals.
A student's project can be one or more experiments designed to answer a particular question, an innovation or it can be a display involving informational research on any topic from these general areas:
Discovery - Create new fundamental knowledge based on your curiosity by asking a question and using the techniques of scientific inquiry to develop an answer.
Energy - Improve our use of current energy sources, enable the transition to alternative energy sources, or reduce our energy footprint.
Environment - Reduce our impact on, improve our understanding of, and ensure the quality of water, air, soil, and the diversity of living things.
Health - Increase our understanding of the human body, or apply science and technology to improve health, control disease, or support an aging population.
Information - Enhance communication and our use of information using digital and networking technologies, or applications of new media.
Innovation - Combine scientific principles with your creativity to develop a new material, structure, device, or system to solve a problem or improve an existing solution.
Resources - Develop better ways to use our natural resources that provide sustainable sources of food, products, or prosperity.
Special Awards (regional) are donated each year by science-oriented community businesses, professionals and service organizations. These awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of the young scientists in the Annapolis Valley. They include trophies, plaques, certificates, and cash awards, and are described under the Awards button on the Home page of this website. Small teams of judges with expertise in the award area evaluate projects according to criteria for excellence specified by the award donor.
We hope that you volunteer to make this science fair a memorable one for the students, for a science fair is not only a competition, but also an educational and motivating experience for students. Students consistently report that the best part of their experience is talking with knowledgeable scientists who treat their work with respect. Please help us make this a positive and enjoyable experience for these young people.