St. Catherine's celebrated World Science Day on Monday 10th November by hosting its 2nd Science Fair, an event that brought our science community together and showcased the growing strength of scientific inquiry across the school.

Students demonstrated exceptional creativity, hard work, and curiosity through their experiments, presentations, and research displays. Many also contributed behind the scenes; mentoring peers, supporting logistics, and ensuring the event ran smoothly, reflecting the leadership and teamwork that underpin the success of the Science Fair.

A Record Level of Engagement

This year’s fair saw remarkable participation, with nearly one in three Upper School families represented. The exhibition was open to all KS3 classes and the entire Upper School during lunchtime, allowing students to explore projects, ask questions, and share in the excitement.

Our Year 6 visitors from the Lower School added a wonderful sense of anticipation, experiencing the fair for the first time and getting inspired for when they have the opportunity to take part next year.

Parents, alumni, judges, and visiting scientists joined us at midday to view the projects and speak with students. Their presence added to the atmosphere of encouragement and community support that defines this event.

Leadership, Mentoring, and Teamwork

A key strength of this year’s fair was the student leadership behind it. The Science Fair was born from an idea that Year 12 student, Cecilia P., championed with exceptional conviction. As Head of the Organising Team for two years, she has been the driving force behind transforming that idea into a signature student-led event at St. Catherine’s. Cecilia’s vision shaped the fair’s structure, her organisation ensured its success, and her mentorship empowered dozens of students to bring their scientific ideas to life. Under her guidance, the Science Fair has grown each year in scale and ambition, leaving a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire future Organizing Teams for years to come.  

Organising Team 

The event was coordinated by Cecilia together with a dedicated Organising Team of Year 11 students. These students applied for their roles in Year 10, trained throughout Year 11, and will assume full responsibility for leading the Science Fair in Year 12. Their professionalism and commitment were central to the success of this year’s fair, demonstrating the strength of student leadership within our school. 

Mentor Team 

Under the guidance of Aspasia G., Head of Mentors, our IB1 and Year 11 Mentors played a vital role in supporting the young scientists. As part of their CAS projects, they worked closely with KS3 teams, offering encouragement and guidance at every stage; from initial concept development to final presentations. Their mentorship ensured a strong, supportive learning environment throughout the process. 

Science Teachers' Contribution 

Our science teachers provided essential guidance from the outset, helping students select safe, engaging, and repeatable experiments. They collaborated closely with the Student Mentors at every stage, ensuring that each project was scientifically sound and developmentally appropriate. Their expertise and ongoing support were key to the quality and success of the student projects. 

The fair was overseen by our Science Fair Director and Science Laboratory Manager, Ms. Sarah Lojo, whose stewardship, detailed planning, administrative oversight, and coordination of logistical and fundraising requirements ensured a well-organised and inspiring event for the entire school community. 

A key strength of this year’s fair was the student leadership behind it. The event was coordinated by a dedicated Organising Team of Year 11 students, who applied to their roles in last year as part of their training year. Their professionalism and commitment were central to the fair’s success, and they will now pass the torch on to next year’s team.

Supporting the young scientists were our Science Fair Mentors; IB1 and Year 11 students who guided KS3 teams as part of their CAS projects. Their mentorship ensured that students were encouraged at every stage, from early ideas to final presentations.

Experiments That Captivated Every Audience

Students presented a wide range of projects across chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. Guests were able to engage with live demonstrations, explore prototypes, and hear students articulate their hypotheses, findings, and next steps.

Key Experiments to Highlight:

Year 7 – First Place 
The winning project investigated how the concentration of borax in a water solution affects crystal growth and formation. Through systematic experimentation, the students discovered that increasing the borax concentration resulted in crystals with greater mass. Their clear methodology and well-supported findings earned them first place in their year group. 

Year 8 – First Place 
This team explored whether a linear relationship exists between the time a battery is charged using a solar panel and the duration a fan can operate. Their results showed a strong positive correlation between charging time and operational time. The project stood out for its thoughtful design, precise data collection, and strong analytical approach. 

Year 9 – First Place 
The top Year 9 project examined how different protective coatings influence the rate of oxidation in metal compared with uncoated samples. Through controlled testing, the students found that wax and petroleum jelly (Vaseline) were the most effective in preventing oxidation. Their careful experimentation and clear conclusions distinguished them as the leading project in their category. 

Together, these projects highlight the creativity, curiosity, and scientific skill of our young researchers across the KS3. 

Following the judging period, students enjoyed a short break before welcoming parents to view their final presentations. The day concluded with a celebratory award ceremony, where all participants received certificates recognising their achievements.

A Word from the Science Fair Director:

"Our Science Fair brought together 177 Upper School students—47 KS3 teams who designed and carried out the experiments, supported by our KS4 Organising Team and dedicated IB mentors. The creativity, curiosity, and commitment shown by our students made this year’s event truly exceptional. We are incredibly proud of the level of engagement across the Upper School, and we extend our deepest thanks to Cecilia P., Head of the 2nd St. Catherine’s Science Fair Organising Team. Her vision and leadership brought the Science Fair to life and made this student-led event a remarkable success."

KS3 Winners and Runners-Up

Year 9

First Place: Investigated how coating a metal with a protective layer affects its rate of oxidation compared to an uncoated metal.

Siming S., Vivien K. and Sicong S., 

Runner Up: Investigated how the shape of a wind turbine affects the voltage output.

Constantinos P. and Ilias N.

Year 8

First Place: Investigated if there is a linear relationship between charging the battery with the use of a solar panel and the time that the fan will operate.

Erica C. and Philip C.

Runner Up: Investigated how the pH level of soil affects the number of microorganisms exhaling CO2 in a controlled, dark enclosed area.

Sampson R. and Vasilis T.

Year 7

First Place: Investigated if the concentration of borax in a water solution affects crystal growth/ formation and how.

Johnny B., Harry B. and Agis K.

Runner Up: Investigated how much weight two vertically aligned, repelling magnets can support before collapsing.

Ellie E., Ellia T. and Alexandra C.

Future Scientist Award

A special congratulations to Vassilis T., who received the Future Scientist Award, selected by Head Judge Dr Bond. This recognition celebrates both scientific potential and commitment to the research process.

Student Reflections

"Seeing what began as a simple idea grow into real impact has been extraordinary. Working with so many children is both challenging and deeply rewarding - empowering them, celebrating their outstanding ideas, and watching them exceed their own expectations. Each year, the Science Fair becomes more advanced and sophisticated, and guiding the new organising team as they carry the legacy forward is truly inspiring. I’m incredibly proud of the student-led project that what we’ve created, grateful to the mentors and senior mentors, and excited for what next year will bring." -Cecilia P., Year 12 Head of St Catherine's Science Fair Organising Team 

"Overall, this experience was an incredibly unique experience, filled with interesting discoveries, rehearsals after rehearsals, and perhaps a little bit too much shouting!

The science fair was an opportunity for us to grow, both in our critical thinking, and our teamwork. We had the time of our lives in this fair, and we wish that this fair can continue into KS4." - Siming S., 

Thank You to Our Sponsor

We extend our sincere thanks to STEM-Toys Knowledge Research, whose support helped make this year’s Science Fair possible. Their commitment to fostering scientific learning for young people reflects the values we champion at St. Catherine’s.

We extend our sincere thanks to Bill Giannakopoulos, Senior Global Medical Director for Stakeholder Engagement at the Sanofi Immunology Alliance, for joining us as a guest speaker at the Science Fair Award Ceremony. His inspiring address encouraged students to think innovatively, present themselves with confidence, and pursue their ambitions with determination. Lively, engaging, and truly fun with the audience, he connected effortlessly with our young scientists. His message resonated deeply with all in attendance and added tremendous value to the celebration. 

A Memorable Conclusion

The day concluded with a performance by our IB Rock Band, bringing the school community together to celebrate the achievements of all participating students.

The Science Fair continues to strengthen our culture of curiosity, discovery, and academic excellence. We are proud of every student who took part, and we look forward to seeing this tradition grow even further in the years ahead.