Christopher L. wasn’t supposed to stay for the closing ceremony. The Grade 10 student from British Columbia had a baseball doubleheader on the schedule and fully expected to make it back for Game 2. It didn’t quite work out that way.
“I told my coach that I would miss the first game but expected to be back in time for Game 2,” Christopher recalls. “It never crossed my mind that I might win a Gold Medal and be selected to represent BC at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Ottawa.”
Instead, he found himself texting his coach with news that would stop the dugout in its tracks. “He was so excited for me and later told me that the whole team was high-fiving when they heard the news.”
“That unexpected experience turned into something much bigger than I imagined. I had an amazing time at CWSF, met so many incredible people from across Canada, made lasting friendships, and came home inspired. After that first year, I became determined to earn my way back again.”
He did, three years running. In 2025, it was Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 2026, Edmonton, Alberta. At this year’s Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair, held at UBC in Vancouver, Christopher again earned a Gold Medal along with two special awards, securing his place on Team BC for a third consecutive time. At CWSF 2026 in Edmonton, he was awarded a bronze medal for his project.
Through qualifying for nationals, Christopher has had the chance to travel across Canada and connect with peers from every province and territory. “Representing British Columbia at the national science fair for three consecutive years has allowed me to experience different parts of Canada while presenting my research and learning from other young scientists,” he says.
- Bugging Out For Robotics
So what does a three-time national science fair competitor study? This year, Christopher turned his attention to carpenter ants, specifically, how they work together without any central direction.
He used those principles of collective, decentralized behaviour to design a swarm of robots that collaborate through stigmergy, where each robot responds to environmental cues left by others rather than following top-down instructions.
For Christopher, that kind of crossover between the natural world and engineering is precisely the point. “I love building things and exploring how the world works, which is why Science Fair has become such a meaningful experience for me,” he explains. “What excites me most is the opportunity to study God’s creation, discover principles hidden in nature, and apply them to create technologies that could one day have a positive impact on the world.”
“Through this experience, I discovered how exciting it is to combine science, engineering, and ideas inspired by nature.”
The people he has met along the way have been just as formative as the projects themselves. “One of my favourite parts of Science Fair has been getting to know so many inspiring people,” Christopher says. He was thrilled this year to room with a close friend he’d met through CWSF over the previous two years, who went on to win an award at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
“Being around students with that level of curiosity, creativity, and dedication motivates me to continue learning and pushing myself further,” he reflects. “The friendships, conversations, and shared experiences from Science Fair are something I will continue to value long after the competition is over.”
His ambitions extend well beyond the competition floor. “One goal I have for the future is to one day attend the International Science and Engineering Fair,” Christopher says. Longer term, he has his sights set on even bigger things: “I would love to launch a robotics startup and turn ideas that begin as science fair projects into technologies that people can actually use and benefit from.”
He hopes to keep exploring robotics and artificial intelligence, and especially to build systems that move beyond simulation and engage with the real world.
- Homeschool & World Stages
Christopher L.’s science fair story didn’t begin in a traditional classroom. It began when his homeschool group organized its own fair, and his mom discovered that homeschooled students could also participate in the regional competition. That small discovery opened a door to three years of national-level competition, cross-country travel, and a community of like-minded young scientists.
None of it would have been possible, Christopher says, without the flexibility that home education provides. Science Fair isn’t a weekend hobby; competing seriously means months of project work and travel to regional and national events.
At the same time, Christopher also plays competitive baseball for the UBC Junior Thunder in the BCPBL. “Homeschooling gives me the flexibility to pursue multiple time-intensive interests and to travel for opportunities connected to those passions,” he explains.
“It has allowed me to dedicate meaningful time to long-term science fair projects while still training and competing in baseball at a high level. Because my schedule is more flexible, I have been able to attend regional and national science fairs, travel for competitions, and invest deeply in both academics and athletics without feeling forced to choose one over the other.”
Being able to manage his own schedule means Christopher hasn’t had to choose between his passions; he can dedicate meaningful stretches of time to designing a science project, then shift gears to train and compete without either pursuit suffering for the other.
There is something else he values in home education beyond the scheduling freedom. “One thing I especially appreciate about home education is that it gives me the freedom to learn beyond the classroom and follow opportunities wherever they lead.”
For Christopher L., that freedom has meant Ottawa, Fredericton, and Edmonton and a wider sense of what’s possible for a curious, driven student willing to stay for the closing ceremony.
We’re so proud of you, Christopher, and we cannot wait to see what’s next for you!
