February / March 2007
Timmins students access VR technologies for new EXTREME VR Science Fair
Secondary students in Timmins and Northeast Ontario have a unique opportunity to use virtual reality technology to develop their science projects for this year's Timmins Regional Science Fair. Their region was chosen as a test site for a new initiative called Extreme VR Science Fair, funded in part by the Ministry of Research and Innovation's Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program (YSTOP). The goal of the Extreme VR Science Fair is to expose secondary school students to expert mentoring and fun, engaging activities in science & engineering using large-scale VR technology.
Last December, the newly-built Timmins Public Library officially opened the Timmins Virtual Reality Studio, the world's first VR facility in a public library. An innovative tool, it was partly intended to help students with their Extreme VR Science Fair projects, encouraging them to explore science and engineering careers.
Students have access to technical data, computers, software and training, and their projects use 2D or 3D models and pictures to explore topics and research questions. They were matched up with mentors, university or industry experts in a given field, who have supported and advised them throughout the process. Topics were chosen in mining and geology, environment, ergonomics, health and safety, computer simulation, and geographic information systems (GIS).
The projects will be presented as works in progress during National Engineering Week (February 24 to March 4) where students will receive constructive feedback. Final projects will be presented at the Regional Science Fair in the Timmins VR Studio in March, 2007.
Students who submit entries get practical research and development experience, including valuable industry contacts and training on specialized computer software.
Expectations of what students may produce with the new technology are high, considering that if an Extreme VR project wins, it would give Team Timmins an advantage going into the Canada-Wide Science Fair, taking place in Nova Scotia next May.
The project lead for Extreme VR Science Fair is MIRARCO, Laurentian University's Mining, Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation. Partners include Science Timmins, the Timmins Public Library and PDAC Mining Matters.
To learn more about the science fair initiative, visit http://extremevr.mirarco.org.
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