YOUTH SCIENCE CANADA
Canadian students win top prizes at prestigious European science competition

Youth Science Canada celebrates the outstanding achievements of Evan Budz and Sara Waqas, who secured top honours representing Canada at the 36th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) held September 15 to 20, 2025 in Riga, Latvia. The prestigious international competition brought together the brightest young scientists from the European Union and beyond to showcase innovative projects that address global challenges.

Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, who was awarded Best Project (Innovation) at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) in Fredericton this past June, received a first prize, worth 7,000, for his project, Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI. His autonomous robot, inspired by green sea turtles, swims naturally and uses artificial intelligence to monitor aquatic ecosystems and coral health with 96 per cent detection accuracy. Budz was also honoured with the Ellison Scholars Award, earning an all-expenses-paid trip to visit Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

Sara Waqas from Calgary, Alberta, the CWSF 2025 Best Project (Discovery) winner, was awarded a second prize, valued at 5,000, for her project, Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach. Her research addresses treatment-resistant schizophrenia by developing a prototype drug that aims to restore normal brain function rather than suppressing symptoms.

"We are incredibly proud of Evan and Sara for their exceptional achievements in Latvia," says Reni Barlow, executive director at Youth Science Canada. "Evan's innovative approach to marine conservation and Sara's groundbreaking work in mental health treatment demonstrate the remarkable ability of Canadian youth to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges. Their success showcases the calibre of scientific talent we have across this country."

CWSF alums Evan Budz (left) and Sara Waqas (right) proudly display their core prize awards at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists held September 14-20, 2025, in Riga, Latvia

EUCYS is an internationally renowned event organized by the European Commission, showcasing the highest calibre of scientific talent from across the globe. The 2025 competition took place in Riga, Latvia, where Budz and Waqas competed alongside the most promising young scientists aged 14 to 20, from 40 countries across Europe and the world.

Team Canada delegations, coordinated by Youth Science Canada, represent the country at international youth STEM project competitions. Team Canada's remarkable accomplishments are made possible through the generous support of Youth Can Innovate, a program of the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Canadian students have won two top prizes at EUCYS. Canada's continued success on the international stage underscores the country's commitment to fostering young STEM talent and reinforces the status Canadian youth have earned as leaders in scientific innovation. Youth Science Canada remains dedicated to nurturing the next generation of researchers, ensuring they have the tools and platforms to make significant contributions to the world.

To stay up to date on Youth Science Canada programs, STEM project competitions, and events, please visit youthscience.ca.