CREDIT: ERIKA FAUST
(From left) Samar Almadhoun, Danny Klapak, Danielle Schnekenburger and Lacey LaRose present their project, “Assessment of Soluable and Slow-Release Fertilizer Regimes on Geranium Growth,” at the Student Research and Innovation Day in April 2013.

Fanshawe students work on some pretty amazing things throughout the year, and Student Research and Innovation Day on March 26 is a chance for some to show off their stuff.

“One of the things we want to do with Student Research Day is have a showcase for students,” said Dan Douglas, dean of Fanshawe's Centre for Research and Innovation, the department that organizes SRID. “They get to showcase the research-related activities they've done as part of their program of study here at the College.”

It's also an opportunity for other students from different areas of study to see some of their fellow Falcons' hard work. “A lot of times, students don't get a chance to have that interconnection across programs,” Douglas said.

As SRID is also an outreach activity for Fanshawe's industry, business and community partners, the event is also a chance for student to network. “It's an opportunity for students discuss their work directly with potential employers,” Douglas said. “There really is that industry-student connection.”

The prize money doesn't hurt, either. On the day of the event, students give short presentations about their projects to judges, who score for professionalism of presentation, knowledge of the topic, the innovation or social impact of the project and its potential for commercialization. Students who receive first-place honours will take home $1,000, second-place $500 and third-place $250. Attendees vote for the People's Choice Award, and the students who receive that win a $250 prize.

Danielle Schnekenburger, a Bachelor of Applied Biotechnology student in her final semester, was in the group that won the People's Choice Award last year for their research on different methods of fertilization.

“It was fun to show people an example of what we learn in Biotech, and I enjoyed the experience of talking to everyone who was curious about our poster,” she said.

“Many people were surprised that this was something we did here at the College,” added her teammate, Danny Klapak.

They're hoping to participate in SRID again this year.

Now in its third year, SRID is making a change. Rather than have all entries competing against each other for top honours, projects will be entered into one of two categories: applied research and social innovation/scholarship. Douglas gave the example of two entries: a working model of a robotic lawnmower to a poster on a health topic — they're just too hard to compare, and splitting SRID into two categories is an effort to level the playing field. This year, he's hoping to showcase more than 40 projects — a big leap from the 28 projects from last year.

For more details and to submit your project to SRID, go to www.fanshawec.ca/srid. Entries must be received by February 21.

Don't miss SRID on March 26 on campus.