For Youth

Your Questions Deserve Answers

Whether you’re wondering why the sky changes colour, how to clean up ocean plastic, or what makes your favourite game addictive, your curiosity is the starting point for something bigger.

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You Don’t Need Permission to be Curious

Every major discovery started with someone asking “what if?” or “why?” You already have what it takes to do a STEM project: questions about the world around you and the desire to find answers.

We don’t do STEM projects to be the smartest person in the room. It’s about being curious enough to investigate something you actually care about, and brave enough to share what you discover.

Here’s what happens when you follow your curiosity:

You learn to think like a researcher, not just memorize facts
You gain confidence presenting your ideas to others
You connect with people who think asking questions is exciting, not annoying
You discover you’re capable of more than you thought

And the best part? You can start right now, from wherever you are.

Your STEM Project Journey

Start With What You’re Curious About

The best projects don’t come from textbooks, they come from genuine questions. Maybe you’re frustrated by something that doesn’t work well. Maybe you noticed a pattern in nature. Maybe you wondered if there’s a better way to do something.

Not sure where to begin? Head to mySTEMspace, where our AI-powered Spark tool asks about your interests – gaming, sports, music, cooking, anything – and helps you discover project ideas that actually match what you care about. Over 13,000 students have used it to find their starting point.

On mySTEMspace, you’ll find:

Step-by-step guides for designing your investigation
Video interviews with students who’ve been where you are
Templates and tools to help you organize your work
Project examples across every topic you can imagine
Other STEM opportunities you might find interesting

Join a Community of Curious Minds

You’re not alone in this. The purpleSTEMwave is a movement of young Canadians who refuse to accept “that’s just how it is” as an answer. It’s a community that celebrates asking “how?” and “why?” and transforming those questions into action.

Join the purpleSTEMwave by:

Being curious – Notice what interests you and ask questions
Starting a STEM project – Investigate something that matters to you
Connecting with others – Join our Discord server where 500+ students share ideas, ask for feedback, celebrate progress, and support each other through challenges
Sharing your discoveries – Let others learn from what you’ve found

In the Discord community, you’ll find:

Live workshops on developing project ideas and presentation skills
Study sessions and collaboration opportunities
Competitions, games nights, and social events
Direct access to CWSF alumni and ambassadors

Trust us, this is a community of nerds where you can find ‘your people.’ All are welcome!

I had no idea what career I wanted to pursue as a finalist. The CWSF was one of the best experiences of my youth, and the skills I developed—critical thinking, communication, stepping out of my comfort zone—have been invaluable no matter which path I’ve taken.

Issa Ammari
CWSF 2014 Finalist

I am beyond grateful to have experienced CWSF. To have met such incredible individuals from every province and to have shared my project with all of them. I will think back to this week and be reminded of why STEM matters and why connection matters.

Finalist
CWSF 2024

The purpleSTEMwave Discord helped me realize I wasn’t the only one staying up late wondering about these things. Finding my people made all the difference.

Anonymous
purpleSTEMwave Community Member

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Sharing Your Discovery or Innovation

Science isn’t done in isolation. Your project deserves an audience.

STEM Fairs are where your work comes to life. These aren’t the intimidating competitions you might have expected, they’re celebrations of curiosity where you’ll:

Present your project to judges who are genuinely interested in your ideas
Meet other students who get excited about the same things you do
Gain experience communicating complex ideas clearly
Receive constructive feedback that makes your thinking stronger
Have the chance to advance to bigger opportunities

Every province and territory has regional STEM fairs, and many communities host school-level fairs too. Most happen between February and April, so you have time to develop your project.

Can’t find a fair near you? You can still share your project at the YSC Virtual Regional STEM Fair.

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What Happens After Your First Fair?

If your project stands out at your regional fair, you might be invited to the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) – a week-long experience that participants consistently describe as one of the best of their lives.

At CWSF, you’ll:

Meet 400 of Canada’s top young scientists from every province and territory
Compete for over $1.3 million in scholarships and awards
Participate in exclusive workshops and networking events
Experience STEM in ways you never imagined
Make friendships that often last for years

CWSF participants might also get the chance to represent Canada at international competitions like ISEF, EUCYS, and MILSET events around the world.

But here’s the real prize: Whether you win an award or not, you’ve proven to yourself that you can ask meaningful questions, investigate them rigorously, and communicate your findings confidently. Those skills will serve you throughout your whole life, regardless of any career you choose.

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Your Questions. Your Timeline. Your Community. Your Way.

There’s no “right” time to start or “correct” way to do a STEM project. Some students spend a year developing their investigation. Others pull together a project in a few months. Some work independently. Others collaborate with friends. Some focus on global issues. Some work to solve a problem in their local community.

What matters is that you’re genuinely curious about your topic and willing to explore it.

Here’s a realistic timeline:

This Week:

Spend 10 minutes with Spark discovering project ideas
Join the purpleSTEMwave Discord and introduce yourself
Browse mySTEMspace to see what’s possible

This Month:

Choose a question you want to investigate
Start researching and experimenting
Connect with others working on projects

This Year:

Develop your project at your own pace
Check when your regional STEM fair happens (usually February-April)
Present your work and celebrate what you’ve learned

Still Have Questions?

“I’m not good at science.”
You don’t need to be “good at science” – you need to be curious. The skills you develop by doing a project are more important than the grade you got in science class.

“I don’t have fancy equipment.”
The best projects use what’s available. Kitchen experiments, online research, coding projects, surveys, observations – all valid approaches that don’t require expensive equipment.

“What if my project doesn’t work?”
“Not working” is data. Failed experiments teach you something. Unexpected results are often the most interesting. Science is about asking good questions and investigating them honestly, not always getting the answer you expected.

“I don’t know any scientists to help me.”
That’s what our community is for. mySTEMspace has resources, the purpleSTEMwave Discord has peer support, and regional fairs connect you with mentors and judges.

Ready to Start?

Your curiosity brought you here. Now let it take you further.