Canterbury’s Science Symposium and Celebration a Huge Success!

Canterbury School would like to recognize everyone who participated and made this year’s Science Symposium and Celebration a huge success! The event was held at Canterbury’s Murphy Sports Center on December 1, 2018.
“We had a great day on Saturday and a wonderful showing of incredible research projects, inventions, and fun demonstrations,” shared Canterbury Science Department Chair Cara Summit.

Each year, Canterbury School students in grades 6-12 have the opportunity to participate in an independent science research program. Their research is presented in the form of a backboard during the school’s Science Symposium. Judges are invited from the community to evaluate the projects. This year we had a record number of judges with more than 50 in attendance. Students in K-12 can also participate by doing a project for the Inventors Fair.

A limited number of projects in the Junior Division (grades 6-8), the Senior Division (grades 9-12), and the Inventors Fair are selected to compete in the Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science and Inventors Fair on January 19, 2019.

Students are encouraged to start their research by consulting with members of the research team, made up of teachers and staff throughout the school. Students can use the knowledge and experience of these faculty members for ideas and guidance throughout the research process. The Science Symposium is both a competition and a time for students to showcase their research and inventions. Each year, students throughout the four divisions come together to celebrate science research and the products of their hard work.

Thank you to Luke L. ’19 for serving as our special student speaker during the awards program. We are also grateful to Canterbury alumna Cheryl Johnson ’08, for sharing her story as our keynote speaker at the event. Cheryl is a Canterbury lifer who started doing science fair in the sixth grade. She graduated from Elon University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Art in Sociology and with a double minor in Criminal Justice and Psychology. In 2015, Cheryl graduated with a master's degree in criminal justice from Radford University. Currently, she is in her fourth year of her Ph.D. at the University of Cincinnati where she is working on her dissertation entitled "Wading in an OCEAN of stress: A gendered analysis of personality, psychological difficulties, and student weapon carrying."


Congratulations to the following students on their awards:

Senior Division

Best in Fair - Emily J. ’20
Microbial Bioremediation: A Study in the Orthophosphate Absorption Potential of Immobilized Organism Consortia

Second Place - Myesha C. ’19
Is there a Carcinogenic Effect Correlated with the Combination of Iron Chloride and Ascorbic Acid in Salmonella typhimurium, As Tested by Reverse Mutation?

Third Place - Luke L. ’19
Green Watts: Investigating Power Production of a single Chamber Plant Microbial Fuel Cell in a modular system comparing crop plants, Triticum aestivum, Saccharum officinarum, and Zea mays

Additional Senior Division Regional Finalists:
  • Robert B. ’20
  • Daniel Z. ’22
  • Magnolia C. ’19 and Michael M. ’19
  • Emily D. ’21
  • Ricky Youschak ’19
  • Ryan S. ’21
  • Arjun S. ’19 and Simrun V. ’19
  • Jay C. ’21
  • Maya C. ’22
  • Colton S. ’19


Junior Division

Best in Fair - Mehereen C. ’25
Studying Mediums

Second Place - Michaela F. ’24
Does Mindfulness Reduce Stress?

Third Place - Shanika F. ’24
What Affect Does Cellular Usage Have on Reaction Time of Adults and Teenagers?

Additional Junior Division Regional Finalists:
  • Jason N. ’24
  • Michelle B. ’23
  • Laith A. ’25
  • Fisher G. ’25
  • Amaya E. ’24 and Katie R. ’24
  • Morgan B. ’23 and Nathaniel L. ’23

The students listed above will be advancing to the 61st Annual Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Regional Science and Engineering Fair on January 19, 2019.

We would also like to congratulate the following Inventors Fair participants in Lower School selected to move forward to the Thomas Alva Edison Festival of Light Regional Inventors Fair on January 19, 2019.

  • Austan C. ’28
  • Isabella F. ’27
  • Elizabeth B. ’28 and Caroline W. ’28
  • Riya K. ’28
  • Ari M. ’28
  • Phoebe M. ’26
  • Lauren M. ’27
  • Liam T. ’29
  • Morgan B. ’23 and Nathaniel L. ’23
  • Sophia F. ’25
  • Amaya E. ’24 and Katie R. ’24
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