Sturgeon Creek student heading to national science fair

Matt Neilson, a grade eight student at Sturgeon Creek School, is glad Walter Rogoza gave him a little advice after a district science fair last month at Crossroads School in Devlin.
Because after fixing up his crystal radio project in order to compete in a regional competition in Dryden last Friday and Saturday, the Stratton resident is now heading to a national science fair in London, Ont. on May 14.
While only the top three winners from the district science fair were supposed to move on to the regional one in Dryden, Neilson explained how he–who came in fourth place in his grade level–got to where he is now.
“The judge [Rogoza] said, ‘I’ll let you go, too, if you change the project from a research project into an experiment,’” Neilson recalled. “He really thought it was good.”
“The regional meet has a different set of criteria–the student must show a clear use of the scientific method,” noted Rogoza, curriculum co-ordinator for the Rainy River District School Board.
“As a judge, I investigated each student, and I realized [Matt] knew more than most of the other grade eight students. I knew he was a winner, but he wasn’t following the format,” he added.
So he worked an extra 25 hours with his crystal radio, which took two prototypes and about four months to build, experimenting with four different antennae and keeping track of his results to strengthen his project.
He added a written testing procedure, hypothesis, observations and conclusion, as well as several graphs.
“I was interested in electronics,” Neilson said. “I thought first of crystal radios because they’re quite easy to make. But the concept behind it is rather complicated so I thought it would be good to really do that research.”
And that research paid off as he beat almost 100 students from across the region last weekend–leaving him, and others, thrilled.
“We’re extremely proud of Matt–he’s a top-notch student who goes after things with gusto,” Sturgeon Creek principal Jerry O’Leary enthused.
“I was really excited to win in Dryden. I think London will be a good experience,” said Neilson.
Even though the London science fair will see 500-600 students between grades eight and OAC competing in several divisions, Neilson is simply glad to have made it that far.
“Well, I hope I do well. But if I don’t, going to London will be worth it anyway,” he said.