Jarek Osika knows how to reach for the stars.
The grade 7 École McIsaac School student had already wowed teachers, judges and members of the public with his science fair project, a fully-functioning radio telescope he built himself.
Now the young scientist is going national. Jarek was one of three winners at this past weekend’s Northern Manitoba Regional Science Fair, earning him a spot in the upcoming Canada-Wide Science Fair.
Jarek will join Manahil Nizamani and Aksh Singh Narham, both of Thompson, as northern Manitoba’s representatives at the fair.
“I was really amazed. I didn’t think I was going to go,” said Jarek shortly after being named a winner. “I’m speechless.”
Jarek’s project is a complicated set-up consisting of a satellite dish, laptop and a tangle of wires. Most of the components were purchased online.
The radio telescope takes readings from the dish and transmits them to the laptop, where a specialized program plots the radio signals onto a graph.
“I detected a satellite and I can detect more terrestrial and black body radiation, the moon, the sun, stuff like that,” Jarek previously explained. “My telescope can’t detect galaxies or stars, but if I had a bigger one, that definitely could.”
The project earned Jarek a gold medal in his grade group at last month’s local science fair, sending him to regionals.
At the regional competition, Jarek earned top spot in the grade 7/8 physical/environmental science category, in addition to winning his national spot.
Three Flin Flon students won their categories at the fair, including Jarek. The regional fair was held at Ruth Betts Community School.
Alli Lytwyn took top spot in the grade 7/8 life sciences category for “Visual vs. Auditory.”
Jamal Lone’s “Blood Pressure and Exercise” project earned him gold in the grade 6 life sciences category.
Now that he’s heading to nationals, Jarek plans on improving his project – including possibly adding a bigger dish.
“Now that I’m going to Nationals, I’m definitely going to make a lot of changes,” he said.
This year’s Canada-Wide Science Fair will be held from May 14 to 20 in Regina. More than 400 projects are expected to be on display.
Local winners
Wyatt Stinton, Does Flex Really Matter?, Grade 4, general, silver
Ava Williams and Sara Mansell, Fruit Batteries, Grade 5, general, silver
Addie Neill, Water Conservation: Diaper Plants, Grade 5, life sciences, bronze
Grace Dubinak, Nail Polish Endurance, Grade 6, general, bronze
Jamal Lone, Blood Pressure & Exercise, Grade 6, life sciences, gold
Olivia Fernandes, The Sixth Sense, Grade 6, life sciences, silver
Abigail Agpalza, Healthy Gum?, Grade 7/8, health, bronze
Alli Lytwyn, Visual vs. Auditory, Grade 7/8, life sciences, gold
Jarek Osika, Radio Telescope, Grade 7/8, physical/environmental science, gold
Erin Mansell, An Improved Ice Pack, Grade 7/8, physical/environmental science, silver
