In this episode of Let’s Innovate, host Michael Unger visits a vibrant school science fair at Chilliwack Secondary School in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. Hearing directly from students about their projects and from teachers Avril Broekhuizen and Scott Liang about the challenges and rewards of organizing a school fair, the episode explores how classroom curiosity becomes the first step on the journey to regional science fairs and why supporting teachers is key to growing the next generation of innovators.

For more information go to sciencefairs.ca. If you have any questions or comments you can email Michael Unger at munger@sciencefairs.ca

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We just wrapped up the 2025 Youth Innovation Showcase, a virtual STEM competition for youth in BC and the Yukon who have used science to solve a challenge in their life or community. This is heart of innovation, and we give these youth a platform to delve deeper into these ideas, but to showcase them to the public.

And in this episode of Let’s Innovate we’re going to hear from the winners from the two age categories. In the 12-15 category it was a Nara Harvey, and in the 16-19 category it was Sameer Assanie and Bobby Yang. If you want to get full context, watch each of their pitch project videos linked below.

Nara Harvey - AI-Driven Sailboat to Combat Marine Poaching

Sameer Assanie and Bobby Yang - Airlume

Finalists Age 12-15 Recap

Finalists Age 16-19 Recap

All finalists and semi-finalists

For more information go to sciencefairs.ca. If you have any questions or comments you can email Michael Unger at munger@sciencefairs.ca

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Stephan Leafriver is a nêhiyaw (Cree) Métis-Scottish, 2-Spirit artist, Land Steward, and filmmaker working at the intersections of story, sound, and stewardship. Living and creating on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, Stephan’s practice bridges Indigenous sovereignty and governance, climate adaptation, and community economies. They were the 2025 valedictorian of Native Education College’s Indigenous Land Stewardship program and have advanced into the University of British Columbia’s Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) pathway, with applied research spanning marine conservation in the North Pacific, Haida Gwaii climate planning, and Guardians program design.

As phenstrom, Stephan composes immersive, land-attuned music and facilitates performance spaces that invite calm focus and relational accountability. Current projects include an Indigenous lead Land Trust models (supported by their ancestral nation, the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation; Treaty 6), podcast(s) and public-facing conversations on healing-centered practices, and film work that frames reciprocity, justice and environmental care through lived story. Whether on stage, in the field, or in the classroom, Stephan works to make policy tangible, data humane, and future development collaborative, centering kinship with the lands and water.

If you want to learn more about the programs we’re doing to support students not just in science fairs, but in all sorts of extracurricular STEM projects, head on over to our brand new website sciencefairs.ca.

For more information go to sciencefairs.ca. If you have any questions or comments you can email Michael Unger at munger@sciencefairs.ca

Follow us on Instagram, and LinkenIn
@sciencefairs, and @michaeljohnunger.