The 2024 Calgary Youth Science Fair was held at the Olympic Oval

About 900 University of Calgary students gathered at the University of Calgary's Olympic Oval this week for what has been dubbed Canada's largest science fair.

The Calgary Youth Science Fair (CYSF) held April 11-13 attracted nearly 900 students from grades 5-12 who showcased their science ideas and inventions.

The University of Calgary hopes the fair will inspire young minds and support the next generation of innovators.

“The University of Calgary is proud to partner with CYSF on an event that encourages such creativity and love of science among students,” said John Cornish, Chancellor of the University of Calgary.

Run by volunteers, CYSF has been operating since 1962.

About 650 stimulating projects were presented this year.

These include the Schulich School of Engineering's Makerspace and Racing team and the Nickle Gallery's numismatic coin collection.

Interactive booths allow students to gain a deeper understanding of science and engineering concepts.

The university also hosted a speaker series on Friday in which three university leaders will share their experiences inspiring students to pursue careers in science.

“These young innovators — taking initiative, being resourceful and learning from experience — are the epitome of entrepreneurial thinking. We're proud to support their journey,” said Cornish.

In addition, the university sponsors more than 20 awards at CYSF.

John Cornish will present the top award (called the Chancellor and Senate Award), valued at $2,500, on Saturday.

The best projects from the fair will be selected to represent Calgary at the Canada Youth Science Fair May 26-31 at Carleton University in Ottawa.

For more information about the Calgary Youth Science Fair, visit cysf.org.