Your monthly connection to youth STEM in Canada

👋 Hi Aspiring Innovators,

Ten years. That’s how long it took for Gayashan to return to CWSF.

He competed in 2015, then medical school happened, life happened. But last June in Fredericton, he walked back into the CWSF hall, this time wearing a judge’s badge instead of a finalist nametag.

Ten years changes your perspective on a lot of things. As a student, Gayashan remembers the nervousness, the pressure to explain his project perfectly, the hoping that judges would understand what he’d worked so hard to create. As a judge, he saw something completely different: rows of curious young people solving real problems, each one representing months of questions asked and challenges tackled.

There’s so much negative information fed to us all the time that you feel like the world’s going to fall apart. But then you come here, and you can’t help but feel some level of faith restored in the world.

And he means it.

February is when many of you are finalizing projects for regional fairs starting next month. Some of you are nervous about presenting. Some are wondering if your project is good enough. Gayashan’s story, from anxious competitor to judge who sees the bigger picture, might be exactly what you need to hear right now.

Read his full alumni story here

2025 in Review

We’ve just released our 2025 Annual Report and it’s a great read (I might be biased…). The numbers don’t lie – we have a national network of people who believe curiosity matters, and we’re so thankful to have their (your!) support! 🫶

By the Numbers:

• 10,000 students participated in STEM fairs across Canada
• 390 finalists at CWSF 2025 in Fredericton
• 2500+ judging interviews held at CWSF
• Thousands more judges, coordinators, and volunteers at regional fairs
• Team Canada once again brought home top honours internationally
• 30,000 messages sent in the purpleSTEMwave Discord server

What It Means:
Behind every student project is a teacher who encouraged them, a parent who supported late-night experiments, a regional coordinator who organized their local fair, and judges who volunteered their time and experience. The network that supports youth STEM in Canada is impressive, and Gayashan’s story of coming back as a judge is just one example of how that cycle continues.

Read the full 2025 Annual Report here

“Sure, it can feel intimidating at first, but a STEM project is all about diving into something you’re curious about, pushing your comfort zone, and meeting awesome people along the way.” – Julien-Pierre Houle, CWSF 2018 & 2019 alum

What’s Happening This Month

February Opportunities

• Physics Across Worlds (Feb 13) – Vancouver girls, dive into creative art
• Solve for Tomorrow (Deadline Feb 27) – use your STEM skills to solve a community problem
• Code Quest Competition (Deadline Feb 28) – register as a team to solve programming challenges

👉 See all opportunities for more details

Worth Your Time

• Science Fair Foundation of BC has announced their Youth Innovation Showcase winners. Congrats to all these amazingly curious innovators!
• It’s obvious AI is changing the world, but it’s nice to see leaders at the World Economic Forum realize the importance of technical skills AND soft skills – all those things a STEM project teaches you
• Finding your direction in life can be stressful – I’d argue (and so would this author) that being curious, and trying something just because it’s interesting, or fun, or scary, is a must

This Month’s Thought

Gayashan’s journey reminds us that STEM fair isn’t just about that one week in May (or March, or April, depending on your fair). It’s about the curiosity you develop, the confidence you build, and the community you join.

Whether you’re preparing to present your first project or you competed years ago and want to stay engaged, you’re part of a cycle that keeps going. The nervous student you are today might be the encouraging judge someone needs ten years from now.

The circle continues because people like Gayashan, and maybe you, choose to come back.

— Stuart

P.S. If you competed at CWSF years ago and want to get involved again (judging at regional fairs, mentoring, or just reconnecting), send me a message. I’d love to hear from you.