Awards

The Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair started in 1962 and has continued to grow for over 50 years through recognition by education institutions and the public, student participants and awards. Students who live in the Niagara Region and are in grades 5 through 12 are eligible to enter.

There presently exists an extensive awards program. It is the result of participation of donors that include educational institutions, associations, businesses, and individuals who give their financial support and encouragement to ensure the success of each year’s Fair.

At the Awards Ceremony (held a week or so after the Fair), awards are presented to students whose projects obtained high marks in each age category (Juvenile, Junior, Intermediate and Senior). The top Junior, Intermediate and Senior winners are eligible to compete at the Canada Wide Science Fair, held at a different location in Canada each year.

In addition to the Category Awards, there are numerous “Special Awards” given to students whose projects have not only earned high marks, but have met specific criteria set by the sponsors of these awards. These projects are judged by representatives of the award’s sponsor and/or members of the NRSEF Awards Committee.

The Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NRSEF) wishes to thank our many sponsors and donors who have made it possible for the NRSEF to reward excellence. Their generosity allows us to present over 100 trophies and monetary prizes to our participants.

Category Awards

There are four age categories based on student school grade level:

Juvenile – Grades 5 and 6
Junior – Grades 7 and 8
Intermediate – Grades 9 and 10
Senior – Grades 11 and 12

Prizes are awarded to First, Second, Third and Honourable Mention places in each of these categories.

The following awards are presented to the student projects that received the highest judges’ marks in their category.

Juvenile – ONTARIO POWER CORPORATION TROPHY
Junior – NRSEF TROPHY
Intermediate – NIAGARA COLLEGE TROPHY
Senior – BROCK FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE AWARD

School Awards

A trophy or plaque is awarded to schools with the most project entries receiving the highest marks in their category.

Juvenile – STUDIO T3 ENGINEERING PLLC AWARD
Junior – NRSEF

Elementary Teachers Award

Elementary teachers’ affiliations present their award to students within their school system. Each affiliate selects two male and two female student projects for this distinction.

ETFO – Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
OECTA – Ontario English Catholic Teacher’s Association

University Entrance Scholarships

The following universities presently award scholarships to selected students who have completed outstanding projects in either Intermediate or Senior divisions.

Brock University
University of Ottawa

NRSEF Award for Outstanding Science Teacher

This award is given each year to a science teacher whose students’ projects received higher marks as a group than all the other school groups who entered the Fair.

Judging Criteria

The judging criteria for the different categories of projects is outlined specifically on the website. Generally speaking the students are judged on excellence in research, creative ability, scientific thought and process, skill, clarity, application and communication.

Prizes

The students whose projects win recognition at the NRSEF are eligible to receive one or more prizes that may include a trophy, plaque, keeper, certificate of achievement, tangible item and/or monetary prize. All prizes awarded EXCEPT for the large trophies and plaques are kept by the winning students.

The large trophies and plaques are the property of the NRSEF and are awarded each year. The committee requests that these trophies and plaques be displayed by the winning students in their schools. Prior to the following year’s Fair, they will be picked up from the schools by a NRSEF committee member.

Special Awards

The following outlines each of the “Special Awards” with its project criteria, eligible category(ies) and prizes. The information for each of the following awards has been determined by the sponsor of the particular award.

In the event the judges of a given special award are unable to find a project with high enough standards that meet the criteria of their award, then the award will not be presented that year.

Please note that the offering of an award is dependent on the award donor. Not all awards listed year are able to be offered every year.

Select an age category to filter the table results:

Award Name	Awards Presented	Project Criteria	Eligible Age Categories	Prizes
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Award	2	Awareness of the need to manage renewable resources for the benefit of both present and future residents of the Niagara Peninsula. Resources include water, forest, land, fish and wildlife populations	Juvenile and/or Junior Intermediate and/or Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
American Meteorological Society Certificate	2	Relevance to weather and/or climate analysis, predictions and/or patterning	Juvenile or Junior Intermediate or Senior	Certificate Purse
The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists Award (OACETT Niagara Chapter)	1	Must demonstrate innovation in applied engineering technology (mechanical, electrical, civil infrastructure / construction, computer IT/IS)	Senior	Purse Plaque
Manian Memorial Award	1	Outstanding chemistry/electro chemistry project	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Purse
Ridley College Engineering Award	1	Presented to the best juvenile category engineering project as determined by the judge	Juvenile	Week-long camp experience at Ridley College
Astronomy and Physics Award	1	Presented to the top project related to astronomy or physics	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Purse
Brock University Earth Sciences Award	3	Must demonstrate excellence in research and scientific thinking relevant to the fields of geology, palaeontology or archaeology	Juvenile or Junior Intermediate or Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Brock University Social Sciences Award	1	Related to social science, including sociology, anthropology, human geography, economics, political science, education and social aspects of psychology.	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Certificate of Achievement Keeper Purse
Brock University Psychology Award	1	Significant research in the field of psychology. May include topics as perception and the senses, intelligence (reasoning, creativity, talent), behaviour, biofeedback, mental disorders and disturbances, and psychiatry.	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Brock University Mathematics Award	1	Demonstrates extensive inclusion of the creative and accurate application of mathematics	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Trophy Keeper Purse
Brock University Biology Award	4	Top biology project in the senior, intermediate, junior and juvenile categories as determined by the departmental representative(s).	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Certificate of Achievement Keeper Purse
Brock University Chemistry Award	3	Awarded to the top chemistry project in the intermediate or senior division, as well as one in the junior division, as determined by the departmental representative(s). The award may be split between two projects in the same division if the projects are of equal merit.	Junior Intermediate and/or Senior	Keeper Purse
Brock University Physics Award	2	Awarded to the top physics project, as determined by departmental representative(s). The award may be split between two projects of equal merit.	Juvenile or Junior Intermediate or Senior	Certificate of Achievement Keeper Purse
Accipiter Radar Technologies Award for Engineering Innovation	2	Demonstrates innovation in engineering technology	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Ontario Institute of Agrology, Niagara Branch	1	Must demonstrate research into an aspect of agrology (soils and crop growing) or an aspect of experimental agriculture	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Water Environmental Association of Ontario (WEAO)	1	Must demonstrate exceptional research, knowledge and scientific thought on a water environmental related topic (ex. water treatment, stormwater management, water pollution, constructed wetlands, properties of water, water environment, etc.)	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Keeper Purse
Mancuso Chemicals Award	1	Top high school chemistry project(s) as determined by the company representative(s)	Intermediate Senior	Keeper Purse
Statistical Science Award	1	An outstanding project that demonstrates excellent use of statistical analysis to investigate or solve a problem	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Purse
Niagara Electrical Association Award	1	Uses of or production of electricity with an emphasis on experimentation	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Keeper Purse
Canadian Federation of University Women - St. Catharines	2	Top female secondary school project. Excellent use of research, design and investigation.	Intermediate or Senior	Certificate of Achievement Purse
Marijane Doyle Award	1	Focus on a medical and/or health issue	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Trophy Keeper Purse
Ontario Power Generation Award	3	Project related to power production, energy and energy efficiency	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Trophy Keeper Purse
Lifelabs Award	1	Emphasis on an aspect of the medical sciences	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Ontario Horticulture Association - District 9	6	Focus on the growth, nature and/or reproduction of plants and/or plant products	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Certificate of Achievement Purse
CEO Niagara Chapter: Consulting Engineers of Ontario Award	3	Innovation in engineering or applied science	Junior Intermediate Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Innovation Science Award	1	Presented to a project that has an innovative use of an everyday item to enhance daily living	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Purse Keeper
Sikamani Memorial Award	2	Outstanding structural or civil engineering project	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
IEEE Prize for Basic Electricity and Magnetism	2	Demonstrates an understanding of the basic principles of electricity and magnetism	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Certificate of Achievement Purse
Club Richelieu	2	Best overall French science project	Juvenile Junior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Gallea Environmental Award	2	Most outstanding project that involves the environment or related topics	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Trophy Keeper Purse
James Draper Memorial Award	1	Demonstrates the most ingenious use of available materials while conducting scientific research experiments, or in the creation of an innovative product	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Keeper Trophy Purse
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre	4	Focus on research in any division of plant science (eg. agriculture, greenhouse science, etc)	Juvenile and/or Junior Intermediate and/or Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
University of Guelph Plant Sciences Award	4	Focus on research in any division of plant science (eg. agriculture, greenhouse science, etc)	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Keeper Purse
Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association	2	Innovative agriculture project in plant sciences	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Keeper Purse
Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board	2	Awarded to a project focused on fruits or plant science	Juvenile or Junior Intermediate or Senior	Keeper Purse
Professional Engineers of Ontario	2	Two awards for projects dealing with innovative aspects of engineering or applied science	Intermediate Senior	Plaque Keeper Purse
Martha Abra Use of Computer Technology Award	1	Awarded to a female secondary school student whose project excels at the use of computer technology in research	Intermediate Senior	Certificate Purse
Ted Rogers Innovation Award	1	Awarded to an outstanding exhibitor or exhibitors with entrepreneurial spirit and a project that demonstrates commercial potential	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Purse
Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club Award	4	Awarded to a socially conscious project that can improve lives and promote peace in the world	Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior	Purse Certificate

Awards

Category Awards

School Awards

Elementary Teachers Award

University Entrance Scholarships

NRSEF Award for Outstanding Science Teacher

Judging Criteria

Prizes

Special Awards

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Award

American Meteorological Society Certificate

The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists Award (OACETT Niagara Chapter)

Manian Memorial Award

Ridley College Engineering Award

Astronomy and Physics Award

Brock University Earth Sciences Award

Brock University Social Sciences Award

Brock University Psychology Award

Brock University Mathematics Award

Brock University Biology Award

Brock University Chemistry Award

Brock University Physics Award

Accipiter Radar Technologies Award for Engineering Innovation

Ontario Institute of Agrology, Niagara Branch

Water Environmental Association of Ontario (WEAO)

Mancuso Chemicals Award

Statistical Science Award

Niagara Electrical Association Award

Canadian Federation of University Women - St. Catharines

Marijane Doyle Award

Ontario Power Generation Award

Lifelabs Award

Ontario Horticulture Association - District 9

CEO Niagara Chapter: Consulting Engineers of Ontario Award

Innovation Science Award

Sikamani Memorial Award

IEEE Prize for Basic Electricity and Magnetism

Club Richelieu

Gallea Environmental Award

James Draper Memorial Award

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

University of Guelph Plant Sciences Award

Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board

Professional Engineers of Ontario

Martha Abra Use of Computer Technology Award

Ted Rogers Innovation Award

Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club Award

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