19 August 2004 Fair a Showcase of Inventive Talent

The bright ideas, research skills and construction capabilities of Canterbury/Westland's young inventors will be on show at the Christchurch Convention Centre, Kilmore Street, this Sunday and Monday (22-23 Aug.).

It's the annual Lincoln University Canterbury Westland Science and Technology Fair and over 500 primary and secondary students will have more than 300 exhibits on display.

The students are competing for a range of prizes in a variety of categories with the Premier Award, Best in Fair, being a three-year tertiary study scholarship tenable at either Lincoln University or Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.

The judging takes place on the Sunday morning and the fair opens to the public at 1 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. It's also open to the public on Monday the 23rd from 9am - 4.30pm and admission is by gold coin.

The fair is the province's top showcase for young scientific and technical talent and is always visited by civic leaders and local MPs.

Last year's Best in Fair winner was Hilary McConnell of Cobham Intermediate. Hilary's winning entry was called "Fish Feeder" and it was a device she invented that automatically feeds pet gold fish while their owner is away.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand