(Collingwood, Ont., May 24, 2023) – deutraMed Inc., a breakthrough deuterium science and innovation company, congratulates Hudson Gibbs, a Grade 7 student from Cornwall, Ontario, for winning the deutraMed-sponsored Chemistry and Innovation Award at the 2023 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF).
Gibbs, an Iona Academy Catholic School student, won the award for his project “Wait! The Juice Trucks are Out?” in the science fair’s grade 7 and 8 Junior Category. He was looking for an alternative solution to de-icing roads that would avoid the ecological damage caused by salt accumulation in soil and ponds. He was first inspired by a news clipping about Cornwall’s use of beet juice to keep the city’s roads ice-free while reducing salt use.
Gibbs demonstrated the functionality of juice as a de-icer by freezing asphalt in different juice mixtures and then testing which juice produced the most significant slide resistance. He found that pickle juice had the greatest slide resistance and that juices with higher sugar content were more resistant to freezing. Gibbs’ results led him to develop pods similar to detergent pods with a mixture of pickle juice to prevent re-icing, beet juice to prevent ice from forming as it freezes, and salt, all encased in biodegradable plastic pods similar to detergent pods.
“Gibbs’ solution displays a passion for science, innovation, and thoughtful pursuit of environmental betterment through scientific progress,” said Marjo Piltonen, Director of Laboratory Services at deutraMed.“ “We are excited to offer him this award and to continue supporting young scientific minds in pursuing scientific innovation and exploration.”
The Canada-Wide Science Fair, held this year in Edmonton, is Canada’s foremost annual youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event, bringing together top young scientists and their projects nationwide.
deutraMed sponsors the Chemistry and Innovation award as part of its commitment to fostering Canada’s next generation of STEM innovators. The award recognizes the Grade 7 or 8 student whose project demonstrates outstanding innovation in chemistry.
Gibb’s project can be viewed at https://projectboard.world/ysc/project/wait-are-the-juice-trucks-out.
About deutraMed Inc.
deutraMed™ is a breakthrough deuterium science and innovation company. We meet the growing demand for value-added deuterium-containing ingredients used mainly in the life sciences and high technology sectors. We also provide research and services for next-generation deuterium products in partnership with our clients, and conduct IP-driven R&D for biopharma and bio-materials applications with support from a world-class Scientific Advisory Board. deutraMed is a member of the Key DH Technologies Inc. group of companies. For more information, please visit www.deutraMed.com.
For more information:
Don Hogarth
Phone: 416-565-8920
Email: don.hogarth@deutramed.com