Ittai Geliebter loves everything about science: dreaming up new inventions, designing them and building them — even selling them if it helps his school’s Innovation Society.
And now that Terry Fox secondary in Port Coquitlam is hosting its second big science fair — Power of Ideas 2 — the Grade 11 student is excited to be involved.
“I think the best thing about this event is it will expose more kids to science and it will encourage them to pursue it,” said Geliebter, who is helping to plan the April 11 event.
Originally from Israel, Geliebter moved to the area about five years ago, bringing his love of science with him.
“He is bright, ambitious, entrepreneurial, driven, persistent and all of the things we wish all kids could be,” said physics teacher Edward Csuko of Geliebter, who is president of the Terry Fox Innovation Society and vice-president of the school’s robotics club.
Among the teen's recent projects is designing and printing key chains for different occasions to sell to raise money for 3D printers for the school.
Geliebter is also creating a smartphone app to detect the ripeness of a watermelon using sound. He hopes to have it at least partially ready for demonstrating Power of Ideas 2.
Fox students will be able to tour the displays during the day, then, from 4 to 8 p.m., the event will be open to the public.
Among the presenters will be Mad Science, Dynamic Attractions — a PoCo company that designs and builds amusement park rides and attractions — Douglas College, Science Alive, SFU, the Fox robotics club, Geering Up from UBC and others.
Csuka said Power of Ideas 2 will feature interactive exhibits representing all facets of science, from rocketry to chemistry. There will be demonstrations, competitions and more.
Last year, 1,000 people toured the first Power of Ideas exhibit.
And who knows, participants may include the next Elon Musk, Steve Jobs or Stephen Hawking — or Ittai Geliebter, who says of inventing things: “That’s my hobby."
