CIPO steals the show at the Canada-Wide Science Fair

The Canada-Wide Science Fair, the largest extra-curricular youth activity related to science and technology in Canada, took place in Winnipeg this year from May 9 to 17. Each year, about 450 young scientists are chosen among approximately 25,000 competitors from across the country to compete for the top ranks. Marking its fifth year of participation in the fair, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) had one of the busiest booths at the event.

Committed to ensuring that students become aware of intellectual property (IP), CIPO created a modified version of the popular game "Plinko" from the famous TV show The Price is Right. Students were able to compete against each other for prizes while learning about IP and its importance in their work. "It was so much fun," says CIPO Marie-Eve Samson. "The students lined up to play!" Roughly 300 students visited the CIPO booth during the first weekend of the event, and nearly 200 showed up on the second weekend.

As the quality and calibre of science fair projects has increased in recent years to be more concerned with stem cell research, biodegradable plastics and voice-activated navigation systems for the blind, it is increasingly important to introduce young minds to the IP rights.

CIPO also provided on site IP experts, such as CIPO Patent Examiner David Boudreau, to help further student awareness. "I especially think that having a patent expert there to answer the students' questions is a huge benefit," says Boudreau. "The students and their parents asked many questions about patents, and many of them wanted to show me their project and were asking for advice on how to register their work."

Boudreau was very impressed with one project showcasing a harness system that could suspend someone in the air, enabling him or her to learn to swim without water. 17-year-old Gary Kurek from Bonnyville, Alberta took the top prize for developing two novel mobility aids for people with physical disabilities — something that, according to Boudreau, could qualify for patent protection.

CIPO was represented by Marie-Eve Samson, Events Coordinator; Joelle Hughes, Head of Quality Control Unit; David Boudreau, Patent Examiner; and Michel Loiselle, Business Development Officer. They all agreed on one thing: they can't wait till next year's fair takes place to see all the new creative projects!

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