HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Students win prestigious prizes at BASEF online awards ceremony

For Joseph and Anthony Saturnino, challenges are merely opportunities in disguise.

The brothers, who are known for leveraging technology to solve everyday problems, found their inspiration this year in the global pandemic which has forced people to isolate in their homes.

Their solution: ISO-PAN MRK 8: An Advanced A.I Medical/Social Isolation Robot.

The robot was designed to assist seniors with everyday tasks and to track and relay their medical, mental wellness and social data to outside parties, such as doctors and family members.

ISO-PAN MRK 8 made its debut at this year's 60th annual Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF), a regional event that provides a forum for students from Hamilton and surrounding areas to develop their scientific skills and prepare for national and international competition. For Joseph and Anthony who usually compete solo, this was not only their first joint project, but their first time competing on an online platform.

This year's online Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair attracted over 300 students who competed for over $225,000 in prizes, trips and scholarships.

The 60th annual BASEF awards ceremony was live streamed on YouTube and Facebook on June 16, 2020.

Forty-one students from the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board were recognized over the course of the evening with special awards, merit awards and Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) trip awards.

This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CWSF award conferred CWSF team alumnus status on the recipients rather than a trip. The award came with a $500 cash prize. Winners included: Grade 11 and Grade 9 Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School students, Joseph Saturnino and Anthony Saturnino for their project, "ISO-PAN MRK 8: An Advanced A.I Medical/Social Isolation Robot;" Ethan Robinson and Ethan Morden, Grade 7 students at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Elementary School for "What can humans hear and does it last forever?"; and Ciara Chorney and Tessa Sugi, Grade 8 students at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary School for "Shining the Light on Bacteria."

This is the third CWSF trip award for both Saturninos. Joseph also represented Team Canada at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2019 where he placed 2nd in the category of Robotics and Intelligent Matters.

Other HWCDSB students were recognized for achievement in the areas of Biotechnology, and Engineering and Computer Sciences to Life Sciences, Health Sciences, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and Earth and the Environment.

Three teachers were also recognized with BASEF Inspiration Teacher Awards: Sarah Grice from St. Augustine, Charlene Bukvic from Corpus Christi and Jenna Frank from St. Luke Catholic Elementary School. The awards, valued at $500 each, are to be used in the classroom at the teacher's discretion.

Results from BASEF listed below.

Anthony & Joseph Saturnino, Bishop Ryan CSS
"ISO-PAN MRK 8: An Advanced A.I Medical/Social Isolation Robot"
Canada-Wide Science Fair Trip Award
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) Hamilton Section Award
Yale Science & Engineering Association Award
Professional Engineers of Ontario-Hamilton/Burlington Chapter Award - First
Nikola Tesla Innovation Award - Gold
Silver Merit Award

Ethan Robinson & Ethan Morden, Our Lady of Lourdes CES
What can Humans hear... And does it last forever?
Canada-Wide Science Fair Trip Award
The Research Institute at St. Joe s Hamilton, Health Research Junior Award
Gold Merit Award

Ciara Chorney & Tessa Sigi, Blessed Sacrament CES
"Shining the Light on Bacteria"
Canada-Wide Science Fair Trip Award
Gold Merit Award

Gladys Kozyra, St. Joseph CES
"Do No Harm: An Investigation Into the Use of Bioplastics for Medical Purposes"
BASEF Inspiration Student Award
Rotary Club of Hamilton-East Wentworth Award - Second
Silver Merit Award

Julia Germana & Cristina Di Felice, Corpus Christi CES
"Bacterial Material"
BASEF Inspiration Student Award
Silver Merit Award

Brianna Beltrame, Corpus Christi CES
"Made to degrade"
Primary Fluid Systems Award
Silver Merit Award

Benjamin Reizoff, St. Bernadette CES
"How Well Does Toothpaste Protect Our Teeth? Does it Matter Which Brand?"
Hamilton Academy of Dentistry Award - First
Silver Merit Award

Maddy Perri & Maya Kasprzyk
"Icy-Hot Hydrowires"
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (Hamilton Branch) Award
Silver Merit Award

Zoe Mashchenko, Our Lady of Lourdes CES
"Detecting water leaks with a robot"
Nikola Tesla Honourable Mention Award
Silver Merit Award

Shenali Shankar, St. Thérèse of Lisieux CES
"Take a ride on the green side"
Oakvillegreen Conservation Association Award for the Environment
Bronze Merit Award

Claire Mancini & Julia Gamble, St. Clare of Assisi CES
"Plastic You: Are Micro-plastics in your water?"
Nelson Steel Award
Bronze Merit Award

Jacob Colatosti, Bishop Ryan CSS
"Unmasking the Mask"
The Research Institute at St. Joe's Hamilton, Health Research Intermediate Award

Dahlia Sandal, St. Luke CES
"Elephant Toothpaste"
Rotary Club of Hamilton-East Wentworth Award - Third

Therand Guy, St. Clare of Assisi CES
"Project Prosthesis"
Primary Fluid Systems Award

Joshua Wong, St. Joachim CES
"Think Twice to Melt Ice"
Primary Fluid Systems Award

Ava Rebelo & Gabrielle Arellano, Corpus Christi CES
"Magnets Vs Temperature"
Silver Merit Award

Julie Gower, Regina Mundi CES
"Colorful Thinking"
Silver Merit Award

Elizabeth Sienna, St. Augustine CES
"Pitch Can You Hear It?"
Silver Merit Award

William Gabriel Cagas, St. Vincent de Paul CES
"HeyFriend! A social-networking app for high school students"
Silver Merit Award

Aiden Scheben & Steven Higgins, St. Augustine CES
"The Future' of Education"
Bronze Merit Award

Grace Jun, St. Augustine CES
"The Power of Packaging"
Bronze Merit Award

Isabella Settimi & Leenah Husain, St. Augustine CES
"Play It to Perfection"
Bronze Merit Award

Capri Czekaj & Julia Marrin, St. Joachim CES
"Wasteless Water"
Bronze Merit Award

Katie Malarczuk & Raquel Lalli, Corpus Christi CES
"The Colour of Vision"
Bronze Merit Award

Lesya Wesolowsky & Jessica Moore, St. Joachim CES
"Boom Boom Boom"
Bronze Merit Award

Eileen Panicker & Claire Babineau, St. Joachim CES
"Body Heat - Watt's Up?"
Bronze Merit Award

Elyse Mostacci, St. John Paul II CES
"Hey! Over Hear!"
Bronze Merit Award

Larissa Colatosti, St. Luke CES
"Re-Wrap Your Snack"
Bronze Merit Award