CCVI student wins gold at Science and Engineering Fair
April 9, 2018
GUELPH, Ontario – A grade 10 student at Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute took home a gold medal at the Waterloo – Wellington Science and Engineering Fair (WWSEF) on April 6.
The WWSEF is a fair open to senior elementary students as well as high school students in Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington County. Students in grades 7 to 12 are able to participate in the WWSEF program by submitting entries. Winners at the fair move on to the Canada-Wide Science Fair and have the potential to place on Team Canada at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Sasha is a grade 10 student at Centennial CVI. He is currently enrolled in the school’s AP grade 11 Biology class. On April 6, Sasha and CCVI teacher, Doug Gajic, went to the WWSEF so Sasha could display a project titled Delivery of DNA to Tardigrades via Nematocysts.
According to Sasha’s teacher, “He has been working on isolating nematocysts or stinging cells from the tentacles of sea anemones. Sasha is working out the variables required to incorporate nematocysts into a gel, load them with the gene of choice and then transform ‘tardigrades’ with that DNA during nematocyst discharge.”
“The whole idea is to find a relatively simple and straightforward method of delivering DNA payloads while studying the genomes of invertebrates like waterbears (tardigrades). This method would facilitate studies of tardigrade gene structure and function,” said Gajic.
At the WWSEF ceremony, Sasha received a gold medal in Intermediate Biotechnology, a SHAD scholarship, an Award of Merit and a berth on the Waterloo-Wellington Canada Wide Science Fair Team that will compete in Ottawa for the National title in May.
Congratulations, Sasha on this amazing achievement and good luck at Nationals!
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