37th edition of Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Québec Final, is under way! - Showcasing the top 125 science projects in Québec

GATINEAU, QC, April 16, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Today marks the start of the 2015 Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Québec Final, at École polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau. Science-minded members of the public, young and young-at-heart, are invited to come and discover the 125 best projects in the province, free of charge. The projects, created by students aged 12 to 20, were all selected at the Regional Finals of the Hydro-Québec Science Fair, held this past March.

When: Thursday, April 16: Friday, April 17: Saturday, April 18: Sunday, April 19:	1 p.m. to 4 p.m.* 9 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
*Come and meet illusionist Luc Langevin, provincial spokesperson for the Hydro-Québec Science Fair, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.!
Where: École polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau, 360 Boulevard La Vérendrye E., Gatineau, Free admission

"Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec is the culmination of the provincial science fairs competition, and also the start of a wonderful adventure for everyone taking part," said Marie José Nadeau, Executive Vice-President – Corporate Affairs and Secretary General, of Hydro-Québec, and Honorary Chair of the Hydro-Québec Science Fair. She added: "Hydro-Québec is exceedingly proud to support the approximately 15,000 students who enter one of the Regional Finals of the competition every year. I am also delighted to announce that our company, a partner of this event for more than a decade, will once again be presenting the Science Fair next year. We are on board for the future."

All about innovation and creativity

After succeeding at the local level and the regional finals of the Hydro-Québec Science Fair, the young exhibitors now have the opportunity to excel at the top provincial tier of the competition, showing off their projects to their families.

"When you visit the Québec Final of the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, you meet dozens of young people displaying astounding innovative spirit!" enthused Marthe Poirier, National Co-ordinator of the Science Fairs Program. "We're nothing short of amazed when we see exhibitors aged under 20 who have devised a system for alleviating symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease, created biofuel using microalgae, or developed a motor that converts lost heat energy into electricity! The Réseau CDLS-CLS is proud to lend its expertise to allow the scientists of tomorrow to excel at this level."

Ensemble pour la relève scientifique: a major fundraising campaign of the Réseau CDLS-CLS

The Réseau CDLS-CLS took advantage of the official opening of the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Québec Final, today to kick off its first major fundraising campaign. The three-year drive is dubbed Ensemble pour la relève scientifique ("Together for the scientists of tomorrow"), and the goal is to raise $300,000 to help develop the next generation of science and technology workers, offer programs geared toward innovation, and promote careers in science and technology.

The campaign will revolve around various actions, details of which will be announced in the months to come. Complete information will be gradually made available on the website of the Réseau CDLS-CLS, reseau-cdls-cls.ca.

Roland Grand'Maison, Executive Director of the Réseau CDLS-CLS, explained: "The mission of the Réseau CDLS-CLS is to get young Québecers interested in science and technology. We want to continue providing programs that encourage the emergence of a new generation of scientists all across the province. The raison d'être of this major campaign, Ensemble pour la relève scientifique, is to equip the Réseau CDLS-CLS with as many resources as possible to help young people like those who take part in the Hydro-Québec Science Fair to take their innovative ideas as far as they can."

Science Fairs Alumni Community supported by Merck

A longstanding partner of the Hydro-Québec Science Fair and sponsor of the Québec delegation to the Canada-Wide Science Fair, Merck Canada Inc. now supports the Science Fairs Alumni Community. This Saturday, several former exhibitors will be on hand in Gatineau for the Community's inaugural meeting.

Special activities are planned, with exhibitors as well as members of the public invited to come and mingle with the alumni.

$250,000 in prize money to reward up-and-comers' hard work

On Sunday, April 19, everyone is invited to attend the awards ceremony, with $250,000 in prizes to be handed out, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium of École Polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau. Webcast coverage of the ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at exposciences.qc.ca.  

During the ceremony, the names of the exhibitors selected to go to the Québec delegation to the Canada-Wide Science Fair, sponsored by Merck Canada Inc., will also be announced. The delegation will be heading to Fredericton, New Brunswick, from May 9 to 16. Three exhibitors will also be chosen to take part in the MILSET International Science Fair, being held this July in Brussels, Belgium. They will join the five young people already named to the Québec delegation following the 2014 Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Québec Final.

All about the Hydro-Québec Science Fair

For a preview of the projects to be exhibited at the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Québec Final, to view the detailed schedule of events, or to learn more about the Hydro-Québec Science Fair, visit exposciences.qc.ca. The Science Fairs are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you to the Science Fair's partners

The Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec is an event organized by the Réseau CDLS-CLS in partnership with the Conseil du loisir scientifique de l'Outaouais, the École polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau and the Commission scolaire des Draveurs.

A lot of partners take part in the success of the Hydro-Québec Science fair. They are made possible thanks to the support of our presenting partner Hydro-Québec. This project is also financially supported by the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et des Exportations through the NovaScience program. Other national partners are: Merck Canada Inc. for the support of the experimentation side on the Science Fairs, the Alcoa Foundation, and the Science fair media partner La Presse +.

Thank you also to our regional partners : Table Jeunesse Outaouais, Université d'Ottawa, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Ville de Gatineau, Commission scolaire des Hauts-Bois-de-l'Outaouais, Commission scolaire des Portages-de-l'Outaouais, Commission scolaire au Cœur-des-Vallées, Clubs optimistes de l'Outaouais et Brookfield. Also thank you to Le Droit, 94,9 Rouge FM & NRJ 104,1, our regional media partners.

About the Réseau CDLS-CLS:

Through the nine regional Conseils du loisir scientifique, the Réseau CDLS-CLS is present everywhere in Québec and offers the following programs : Science Fairs, the Défis technologiques, the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, 2015 Québec Final Club des Débrouillards and Les Innovateurs à l'école. The Réseau CDLS-CLS also provides educational science kits to primary and high schools.

About NovaScience program :

This program is designed to improve the understanding of science and technology by the youth and the public at large as well as to promote the emergence of the new generation of scientists.

SOURCE RÉSEAU CDLS-CLS

Maude Péloquin, Communication officer, Tel : [phone] ext. 3895, Mobile : [phone], [email protected]; Andrée Peltier, Press officer, Tel : [phone], Mobile : [phone], [email protected]