Silver Science Fair for Dr. Zonk

The upcoming Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair will mark the silver anniversary of involvement by chemistry professor Dr. Reg Mitchell. He first joined the fair’s organizing committee in advance of the Canada-wide science fair coming to Victoria--and the UVic campus--in 1977. “I’ve been involved ever since,” says Mitchell, who, this month, celebrates 25 years of encouraging young scientists. The annual event involves UVic faculty, area teachers and community scientists. UVic biologist Dr. Barbara Hawkins is the site organizer who oversees the display of experiments from 100 students in grades 4 to 12. This year’s displays include: a compact escape pod used to evacuate people from high buildings; an experiment to determine if playing video games has any influence on learning tasks; and a device that sets off an alarm when a driver falls asleep at the wheel.
The young scientists will see Mitchell’s alter ego “Dr. Zonk” perform his last science show as an official participant at 9 a.m. on April 15, although Mitchell admits Dr. Zonk may make unofficial appearances at future fairs. Five winners from this year’s fair will go on to represent Vancouver Island at the 2002 Canada wide fair. The Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair is part of the 2002 UVic Community Festival.

“Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair”
Sunday, 14 April with exhibits open to the public from 12 to 3:30 p.m. in the Elliott Building lecture wing.

Monday, 15 April with exhibits open to the public from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Elliott lecture wing. Awards ceremony from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in MacLaurin Building, room 144.

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