Janelle Tam (15) and Vivienne Tam (18)
Team Canada-ISEF 2011 returned home with 17 awards from Intel ISEF 2011, held in Los Angeles, California, May 4th-14th. The world's largest pre-college celebration of science, Intel ISEF brings together over 1,500 students from nearly 60 nations to compete for over $4 million US in scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: a $50,000 US scholarship.
Janelle Tam (15) and Vivienne Tam (18), from Waterloo Collegiate Institute with their project "Cellulose Crystals Clean and Cure", Waterloo ON, earned a Fourth Place Grand Award, $500. Their project abstract is below. 		At the 2011 Sanofi-Aventis Biotalent Challenge, in London, Ontario
Vivienne Tam won First place:$3,000 cash prize, $1,500 entrance scholarship to The University of Western Ontario and $500 entrance scholarship to the University of Waterloo.

Janelle Tam won Second place: $2000 cash prize, $1,000 entrance scholarship to The University of Western Ontario and $500 entrance scholarship to the University of Waterloo.

In 2010 they won a third place award in the Team Projects category at the Intel ISEF in San Jose, CA.
2011 abstract:
Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is an emerging biodegradable, renewable biomaterial that possesses superior physiochemical properties. Surface modification of NCC allows for its use in a plethora of applications including water purification and drug delivery. Current sewage and water treatment plants are unable to remove trace amounts of pharmaceutical compounds from drinking water, posing new, unknown threats to humans and the environment. In this project, beta-cyclodextrin was grafted to NCC and the drug-capturing abilities of the NCC-CD complex in a water treatment setting were proven. As a negatively charged molecule with anti-microbial properties, NCC also has the potential for applications in drug delivery. Transdermal bioadhesives represent one such system; however, the side effect of skin irritation, as well as difficulty with skin adhesion, are problems that require solutions. NCC is a non-toxic molecule which does not irritate skin and can be modified to function as a bioadhesive. This compound was incorporated into a transdermal bioadhesive and drug release tests were conducted to test its performance in drug delivery. Properties for the membrane were also optimized. Membranes with NCC were prepared that could encapsulate and release 40-50% of drug added. Further results demonstrated that membranes with a higher weight percents of NCC and higher crosslinking densities captured and released more drug. This research represents important first steps in investigating the properties of NCC for applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields; the advancement of such green technology will serve to safeguard human health and the environment for a sustainable future.
Janelle and Vivienne's other awards this year and in past years

Canada-Wide Science Fair 2010,  May 16-23,  in Peterborough, Ontario.
Mackenzie Carter was awarded a Senior Engineering Gold Medal ($1500), a University of Ottawa $20,000 ($5000/yr for 4 yrs) Entrance Scholarship, a Dalhousie University Faculty of Science $4000 Entrance Scholarship,and a University of Western Ontario $2000 Entrance Scholarship. Mackenzie earned the International Summer School for Young Physicists Award ($2500). The award consists of a full scholarship to participate in the International Summer School for Young Physicists 2010 (ISSYP 2010) from July 8-24, an intensive two week enrichment program that will introduce students to the fascinating picture of our universe as seen through the eyes of contemporary physicists: from the bizarre quantum world of atoms and subatomic particles to black holes, warped spacetime and the expanding universe. Students will also interact with professional physicists at Perimeter Institute in small group mentoring sessions, participate in field trips to interesting science related destinations in the region and forge new friendships with like minded young people from around the world. The scholarship includes room and board and travel expenses to and from the Institute. Total value $2500. Sponsor: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Leslie Bothwell and Jenny Tian were awarded a Senior Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Honourable Mention ($100).

Zach Elgood was awarded an Intermediate Earth and Environmental Sciences Bronze Medal ($300), and a University of Western Ontario $1000 Entrance Scholarship.

Sophia Oke and Noorain Shethwala were awarded a Senior Health Sciences Bronze Medal ($300), a University of Western Ontario $1000 Entrance Scholarship, and a University of Ottawa $1000 Entrance Scholarship.

Young researchers from the Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair won a total of $4700 in awards and $29000 in scholarships.
Awards for these people in past years

2010
Brian Krug
At the 2010 International BioGENEius Challenge, May, 2010 Brian was named a finalist, and awarded an honourable mention, plus $500, for his project titled "Catechin's anti-angiogenic effects in epithelial ovarian cancer".
Brian has also been selected as one of the Canadian participants in the International Science and Engineering Fair, May 9-14, in San Jose, CA
At the Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair, April 7, 2010 he earned an Award of Merit, was the Best of the Life Science Division, a Gold Medal, and Scholarships to Conestoga College and the Universities of Guelph, Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier.
Brian's other awards this year and in past years
 Zach Elgood
At the International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, Environment) Project Olympiad April 14- 19, 2010, in Houston, Texas. Zach Elgood of New Hamburg won a Gold Medal, and $1000, in the Senior Environment Category. His project "Methane Production and Removal in an In-Stream Bioreactor" looked at a method for reducing methane produced in a bioreactor designed to remove nitrates from water.
At the 2010 Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair he earned an Award of Merit, a Gold Medal, and the Ontario Ministry of Environment - Environmental Innovator Award.
Zach's other awards this year and in past years
Hillary Dawkins and Susie Pan
At the 2010 International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, Environment) Project Olympiad April 14- 19, in Houston, Texas Hillary Dawkins and Susie Pan of Guelph won Bronze Medals, and $400, in the Senior Energy and Engineering Divisions. Their project, "Solar juice: Creating Green and Cost-Effective Dye Senesitized Solar Cells", focused on generating the greatest current output of dye sensitized solar cells by mixing different dyes and finding their optimal pH level.
At the Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair, April 7, 2010 they earned the Hydro One Energy Ambassador Award, a Gold Medal, and Scholarships to Conestoga College and the Universities of Guelph, Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier.
Hillary and Susie's awards in past years