Announcing the 2024 Let's Talk Science Challenge Winners

News | June 10, 2024 | Share on:

The Let’s Talk Science Challenge is a free, competitive, team-based enrichment program that has been offered since 2005 to educators and parents across Canada as a fun and easy way to engage youth in Grades 6-8 in STEM learning. 

This year’s Let’s Talk Science Challenge began with 10 weeks of virtual practice and preparation activities to help students get ready for the Grand Finale. During the Grand Finale Events, participants tested their STEM knowledge and their problem-solving skills in multiple challenges. Events were held virtually and in-person to allow as many students as possible to compete. 

Thank you to everyone who participated, and a big congratulations to the Let’s Talk Science Challenge 2024 winners! 

Grand Finale Events 

The Let’s Talk Science Challenge culminates in the Grand Finale Events where teams of students compete in three different challenges: 

  • The Ultimate Quiz to test their knowledge of STEM concepts included in the Study Handbook 
  • The Final Engineering Challenge to test their problem-solving skills 
  • The Lorna Collins Spirit Award to showcase their team spirit, teamwork, and love for STEM. 

Overall winners are determined by adding together the teams’ scores from the Ultimate Quiz and the Final Engineering Challenge. The Lorna Collins Spirit Award is awarded as a separate prize to those whose teamwork and enthusiasm stands out to the judges. The top teams in the Final Engineering Challenge and the top teams in the Ultimate Quiz who do not place overall are awarded Honourable Mentions. Meet the 2024 winners below! 

Congratulations to everyone – no matter the final scores, we know all participating students and educators work hard to prepare for this competition and we were blown away by the enthusiasm, creativity, and knowledge on display!  

If your team name is listed below as a winner for a virtual event, we will contact you with more information about your prize! Please be patient and keep an eye on your email’s junk filter. 

 

Virtual Grand Finale Events

French

First Place Overall:

  • Énergie Cosmique, Glenview Senior Public School (ON)

Second Place Overall:

  • JEDS, Centre scolaire de la Rive-Sud (NS)

Third Place Overall:

  • Duo B., (QC)

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: 

  • Énergie Cosmique, Glenview Senior Public School (ON)

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: 

  • Lansdowne 1, École Lansdowne Immersion (MB)
  • Lansdowne 2, École Lansdowne Immersion (MB)

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge:

  • Champion champignon, Centre scolaire de la Rive-Sud (NS)
  • Goofy Goobers, Centre scolaire de la Rive-Sud (NS)

English

First Place Overall:

  • DNA + RNA, Waterloo Catholic District School Board (ON)
  • Laser B.E.A.M.s, Waterloo Catholic District School Board (ON)
  • Unicorns 9, University Heights Public School (ON)

Second Place Overall:

  • Ethan Ebot, Blessed Carlo Virtual School (ON)
  • Hyposulfite, Charles Howitt Public School (ON)
  • Maingate Team 3, Maingate Islamic Academy (ON)

Third Place Overall:

  • Maingate Team 2, Maingate Islamic Academy (ON)
  • PACE 1B, Academy For Gifted Children Pace (ON)
  • Uhubor 1 & 2, (MB)

Lorna Collins Spirit Award:

  • Ethan Ebot, Blessed Carlo Virtual School (ON)
  • Unicorns 6, University Heights Public School (ON)
  • Unicorns 9, University Heights Public School (ON)

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz:

  • AHES- 7A&B, Al Huda Elementary School (ON)
  • AHES- Grade 7s, Al Huda Elementary School (ON)
  • Grade 7- AHES, Al Huda Elementary School (ON)
  • Maingate Team 1, Maingate Islamic Academy (ON)
  • Uhubor 3 & 4, (MB)

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge:

  • Lab Rats, University of Toronto Schools (ON)
  • PACE 2A, Academy For Gifted Children Pace (ON)
  • PACE 2B, Academy For Gifted Children Pace (ON)
  • Solar Psychos, University of Toronto Schools (ON)
  • The Scientific Savants, Byron Southwood Public School (ON)

Special shout-out to the teams who participated in all 3 virtual challenges:
  • Elements of Surprise
  • Énergie Cosmique
  • Ethan Ebot
  • Hyposulfite
  • ISNA 7G
  • Maingate Team 1
  • Maingate Team 2
  • Maingate Team 3
  • Roslyn Scientists
  • Unicorns 1
  • Unicorns 2
  • Unicorns 5
  • Unicorns 6
  • Unicorns 9

 

In-person Grand Finale Events

At Carleton University and University of Ottawa in Ottawa (ON)

Winning team names currently unavailable for this event.

At McGill University, Macdonald Campus in Montréal (QC) - French Event

First Place Overall: Les merles bleus scientifiques (École D'Education Internationale de Laval)

Second Place Overall: Les éperviers magnétiques (École D'Education Internationale de Laval)

Third Place Overall: Les bec-en-sabot du Nil nucléaires (École D'Education Internationale de Laval)

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: Les merles bleus scientifiques (École D'Education Internationale de Laval)

At McGill University, Macdonald Campus in Montréal (QC) - English Event

First Place Overall: Bioluminescent Cells (Royal West Academy) 

Second Place Overall: Royal Scientists (Royal Vale School)

Third Place Overall: Carbon Cowboys (Villa Maria)

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: Villa Viruses (Villa Maria)

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: Lab Rats (Villa Maria)

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: The Chosen Ones (homeschool)

At McMaster University in Hamilton (ON)

First Place Overall: Al Huda Lions (Al Huda Elementary School)

Second Place Overall: H₂Os (Al Huda Elementary School)

Third Place Overall: Bunsen Burners (Al Huda Elementary School) 

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: Mitochondria (Al Huda Elementary School) 

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: Teletubbies (Fallingbrook School) 

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: Mac OGS 2 (Olive Grove School)

At Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s (NL)

First Place Overall: SciMind (St. Paul's Junior High School) 

Second Place Overall: St. Bon’s 2 (St. Bonaventure's College) 

Third Place Overall: Lab Rats (Frank Roberts Junior High School) 

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: BJH Virophages (Beaconsfield Junior High School) 

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: Burton Panthers 5 (Mary Queen of Peace Elementary School) 

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: St. Bon’s 4 (St. Bonaventure's College) 

At Memorial University of Newfoundland, Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook (NL)

First Place Overall: JTG (Immaculate Heart of Mary)

Second Place Overall: WildBerries (homeschool)

Third Place Overall: Eastside 2 (Smart Squad) (Eastside Elementary) 

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: Solar Eclipse (Immaculate Heart of Mary) 

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: Corrosives (French Shore Academy) 

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: Galaxy Geeks (Immaculate Heart of Mary)

At Queen’s University in Kingston (ON) 

First Place Overall: The Atoms Family (Lakeshore School)

Second Place Overall: The Yappers (Calvin Park Public School)

Third Place Overall: The Lancaster Sherlocks (Lancaster Drive Public School)

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: AQAY (Calvin Park Public School)

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: The Zooplanktons (Lakeshore School)

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: The Big Bang Gang (Newburgh Public School)

At Simon Fraser University in Burnaby (BC)

First Place Overall: Dapper Diatoms in Dubai (Berkshire Park Elementary School) 

Second Place Overall: The Rebel Sloths (École Crescent Park School) 

Third Place Overall: Team Procrastination (Berkshire Park Elementary School) 

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: Atoms Family (Cleveland Elementary School) 

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: Junior Criminals (Surrey School District 36) 

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: Team PACT (Berkshire Park Elementary School) 

At University of Manitoba in Winnipeg (MB)

First Place Overall:  Landsdowne 2 (École Lansdowne Immersion) 

Second Place Overall: Landsdowne Lions (École Lansdowne Immersion) 

Third Place Overall: SEA Squad (John W. Gunn Middle School) 

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: Something about Science (John W. Gunn Middle School) 

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: Landsdowne 1 (École Lansdowne Immersion) 

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: Landsdowne 3 (École Lansdowne Immersion) 

At University of Toronto, St. George Campus in Toronto (ON) 

Winning team names currently unavailable for this event. 

At University of Windsor in Windsor (ON) 

First Place Overall: North Neutrons (Northwood Public School) 

Second Place Overall: Team 7 (Academie Ste. Cecile International School) 

Third Place Overall: Vortex (Tecumseh Vista Academy – Elementary) 

Lorna Collins Spirit Award: Cat Chemists (Lakeview Montessori) 

Honourable Mention in the Ultimate Quiz: Particles (Northwood Public School) 

Honourable Mention in the Final Engineering Challenge: ASCIS 4 (Academie Ste. Cecile International School) 

We are so proud of all the youth who joined us this year and hope you bring your curiosity and passion for STEM back to the Challenge next year! 

Are you interested in the Let’s Talk Science Challenge 2025?
Sign up for our Let's Talk Science Educator Newsletter!

 

Thank you to our 2024 Challenge supporters

Seaspan Shipyards, Spin Master, The Boeing Company, Best Buy Canada Ltd., DuPont Canada, and Gilead Alberta ULC 

Thank you to our Visionary Donors

Amgen Canada, Government of Canada, Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd., The Mitchell & Kathryn Baran Family Foundation, Rio Tinto, and The Trottier Family Foundation