School News - Manitoba Catholic Schools

Breaking Barriers in STEM: Dr. Anju Bajaj at Soapbox Science Winnipeg

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, Dr. Anju Bajaj, STEM Advisor for Manitoba Catholic Schools, participated in the Soapbox Science Winnipeg event, presenting her talk titled "Opening the Door: Explore How Science is Happening Around Us." This inspiring event showcased the work of 12 exceptional women and non-binary scientists from Manitoba, selected from a competitive pool of researchers.

Soapbox Science offers a unique platform for scientists to engage directly with the public, highlighting their expertise and fostering connections within the community. The event not only promotes visibility and challenges gender biases but also emphasizes the importance of diversity in the scientific field. Dr. Bajaj’s passion for STEM and commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) was evident as she inspired attendees with her insights into technology, science, agriculture, medicine, and engineering.

The day was filled with discovery and learning, nurturing confidence and public speaking skills among participants. Dr. Bajaj’s involvement exemplifies the drive to break down barriers and create a more inclusive future for science, fostering personal and professional development for all involved.

Congratulations to Baljot Rai of St. Paul's High School on winning the 2024 Loran Scholarship! See the Free Press article here.

Team Bison Honoured at Manitoba Legislature for Outstanding Achievements

Congratulations to Team Bison for their remarkable recognition at the Manitoba Legislature Building on May 16, 2024. This accolade highlights the immense hard work, dedication, and passion of every team member. Founded in 2018 by Dr. Anju Bajaj, STEM Advisor for Manitoba Catholic Schools, the Bison Regional Science Fair (BRSF) has grown to become one of the largest regional science fairs in Canada. Its success is fueled by the dedication of volunteers, the generosity of sponsors and donors, and the unwavering support of the Manitoba community, welcoming participation from students across the province.

BRSF's core mission is to increase youth participation in STEM, offering hands-on experience in research and experimentation. Participation in the fair cultivates essential skills and presents a diverse array of challenges, encompassing all unique disciplines within STEM. This broad focus ensures students can explore their interests and contribute to numerous scientific fields.

This year, Holy Cross School and Bison Regional Science Fair hosted over 300 students from schools across the province, fostering a love for science and supporting young scientific minds. BRSF serves as a stepping stone for aspiring scientists, sending top competitors to prestigious events like the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

Representing Manitoba at the Canada-Wide Science Fair are:

-Sneh Vyas with research on SkinDeepAI: Streamlined Detection of Skin Cancer Using Deep Learning
-Ayshani Mukerji with research on prioritizing the environment in fashion.
-Ella Agpalza with research on solar-powered water desalination.
-Miles Girardin with research on changing lights for emergency vehicles.
-Baljot Rai with research on MopMussels: Development of a Carpet Mussel Shell-based Biosorbent for Phosphorus.

Please join us in congratulating Sneh Vyas, Ayshani Mukerji, Ella Agpalza, Miles Girardin, Baljot Rai, and their mentor Dr. Anju Bajaj. They will travel to Ottawa later this month to showcase the incredible scientific work being done right here in Manitoba.

We wish them the best of luck in the competition ahead and in their future scientific endeavors. Video link

Highlights of 2024 Catholic Schools Day: Educating for Eternity

photo credits: Vincent Ocampo and Jason Cegayle

2023 Bison Regional Science Fair

It is with great honor and excitement that I share the exceptional achievements of our team, Bison Manitoba, at the Canada-wide science fair in Edmonton. Competing against 340 discovery and innovative projects, we have earned well-deserved accolades and recognition. All our finalists received well earned awards at the national science fair!!!

We are thrilled to share our accomplishments, which include one of our Bison finalists Keerthan representing Canada at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, USA; at national level Anika Paliwal receiving the Excellence Award-Bronze Medal and scholarships from the University of Western Ontario ($1000), University of Alberta ($2500), and University of Ottawa ($1000), ; as well as scholarships for Sneh Vyas ($1000) and Baljot Rai ($1000).

I am delighted to inform you that Baljot Rai has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Canadian Stockholm Junior Water Prize. His groundbreaking work on using zebra mussel shells to absorb phosphorus in water has been highly regarded.

We are privileged to be among the top contenders who will submit reports on our projects, and we eagerly anticipate representing Canada in the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition in Stockholm, Sweden.

We were on the CBC Edmonton and global TV. Here is a link for you
'It's an honour': Winnipeg teen to represent Canada at youth STEM competition: CTV news link

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Our recent Science Fair event was a huge triumph. The amount of energy, dedication, and passion demonstrated by everyone involved, including the students, parents, teachers, judges, supporters, sponsors, and community members, was truly remarkable. I am proud to announce that our Team Bison Manitoba has been selected to represent us at the Canada-wide science fair in Edmonton from May 14-19, 2023. These students were selected based on their extraordinary skills in ingenuity, critical thinking, scientific excellence, and communication skills.

I urge everyone to support these young scientists by learning more about their projects and highlighting the value of STEM-based projects inside and outside of school, particularly for children and teens.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. Your unwavering support and dedication have been the driving force behind this achievement. We are fortunate to have such a fantastic community that celebrates the accomplishments of our young scientists.

Let us continue to work together towards greater achievements.

Dr. Anju Bajaj

Congratulations Dr. Anju Bajaj of Holy Cross School on receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal - 2022