The creators of all the projects at the Central South Island Sanford Science and Technology Fair in Timaru missed the event because of Covid-19 Level 2 restrictions.

Students who would normally stand with their exhibits and talk to browsing members of the public were not permitted on site when the 15 judges made their assessments in the Craighead Diocesan School’s library on Saturday.

The annual event showcases original exhibits from students in Mid and South Canterbury on scientific or technological themes which includes investigating or researching a scientific idea or developing a technological device.

Fair convenor Julie McLean said there were 125 entries, many of which were completed during lockdown.

Oli Kirke of Roncalli College was the overall winner with his Roofs 4 the Future project.

Oli’s investigation was looking at the efficiency of solar energy captured in the winter months and how regularly changing the angle of the solar panel can increase the efficiency. He also won gold in the technology section as it had both aspects of investigation and an innovative technology solution and was gold investigation winner in the intermediate science investigation section.

Holly Turner from Timaru Girls’ High School was second overall with her Monitoring Moisture project.

Holly made her own hygrometer to measure moisture to avoid overwatering indoor plants. She was also a silver award winner in the technology section and a gold award winner in the intermediate science investigation section

Third overall was Beth Savage from Craighead Diocesan with her Better Bait work which investigated possum control. She was a gold award winner in the Year 8 science investigation section and second in the junior section of the environmental science section.

Click here for the full list of prizewinners.