The future of Canadian innovation was on vibrant display this weekend as over 500 young scientists from across the country gathered in Montreal for the annual Canada Youth Science Fair 2025. Among rows of meticulously crafted displays and enthusiastic explanations, one truth became abundantly clear: the next generation of scientific minds is already tackling some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Sixteen-year-old Amina Patel from Vancouver captivated judges with her revolutionary approach to plastic degradation using a newly discovered enzyme combination. “I started researching this after seeing beaches covered in microplastics near my grandmother’s home,” explained Patel, whose project earned top honors in the environmental science category. “The enzymes break down polyethylene at nearly triple the rate of current methods.”
The competition, now in its 62nd year, has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings. “What stands out today is how these students aren’t just demonstrating scientific principles—they’re applying them to real-world problems,” noted Dr. François Belanger, head of the judging committee and professor of biochemistry at McGill University.
Climate solutions dominated many exhibits, reflecting growing environmental consciousness among Canadian youth. Fourteen-year-old twins Marcus and Maya Thompson from Halifax presented a sophisticated carbon capture system designed for urban settings that could potentially be retrofitted to existing buildings. Their project earned them the Innovation Award and a $5,000 scholarship.
Perhaps most impressive was the interdisciplinary nature of many projects. Seventeen-year-old Omar Hassan from Winnipeg combined artificial intelligence with agricultural science to develop an early-detection system for crop diseases. “The algorithm can identify infection patterns up to two weeks before visible symptoms appear,” Hassan explained. “For farmers, that could mean saving entire harvests.”
Federal Minister of Science and Innovation, Dr. Priya Singh, who attended the fair’s opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of nurturing scientific talent. “These young Canadians represent our country’s greatest resource,” she told CO24 News. “Their ingenuity today will shape our collective tomorrow.”
The fair also highlighted growing diversity in STEM fields. Nearly 58% of participants were young women, a record high for the competition, while 32% identified as visible minorities. “We’re finally seeing representation that better reflects Canada’s population,” said Leah Wong, executive director of the Canada Youth Science Foundation. “But we still have work to do in ensuring rural and Indigenous communities have equal access to STEM opportunities.”
Beyond the competition itself, participants engaged in workshops led by industry leaders from companies including Shopify, Green Shield Biotech, and the Canadian Space Agency. “Meeting actual scientists doing groundbreaking work helped me see potential career paths I hadn’t considered,” said 15-year-old Eric Trudeau from Sudbury, whose quantum computing project earned honorable mention.
The fair concludes tomorrow with an awards ceremony where over $100,000 in scholarships will be distributed. Several winners will advance to represent Canada at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Singapore later this year.
As these young scientists pack up their displays and return to classrooms across the country, one cannot help but wonder: how many of the innovations showcased this weekend will become commonplace technologies in our future, and which of these bright minds will lead the next wave of Canadian scientific achievement?
