The Toronto Science Fair organization is an amalgamation of the East York Science Fair, the Metropolitan Toronto Region Science Fair, the Toronto Catholic District School Board Science Fair and the Toronto East Science and Technology Fair, several of which operated independently for over 30 years. By combining resources and expertise, Toronto Science Fair is able to offer a top quality program to every Kindergarten to Grade 12 student in Toronto.
The Toronto Science Fair program encourages Kindergarten to Grade 12 students to undertake genuine scientific inquiry and technological innovation. Students begin with a question, problem, or idea that emerges from their everyday experience or through their work at school. With support from teachers, parents, and mentors the students conduct investigations and develop innovative solutions to problems, then prepare a display and presentation of their work.
The organization’s goal is to encourage, recognize, and celebrate participation and excellence in project-based science in Toronto. All students present their projects to groups of peers and an adult facilitator; grade 7-12 students also interact one-on-one with university, college, and corporate evaluators who hear the students’ presentations while selecting projects to move on. Astrophysicist and chief judge for the fair, Dr. Charles Dyer of the University of Toronto says, "Participation in science and technology should be as attractive an extra curricular activity as playing hockey. These students should be school and community heroes, just like any top-level athlete."
Toronto Science Fair is affiliated with the Youth Science Canada, which is responsible for coordinating over 100 regional science and technology fairs across the country and the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Students and teachers interested in the program should watch for the information package arriving in their school or visit the web site, www.torontosciencefair.ca