Sudbury teen wins bronze at national science fair

Ariana Demers, a Grade 10 student from Lockerby Composite School in Greater Sudbury, Ont., earned a a bronze medal in the Intermediate Division at the 2026 Canada-Wide Science Fair. (Supplied/Rainbow District School Board)

A Grade 10 student from Lockerby Composite School in Greater Sudbury, Ont., has won a national bronze medal for research that uses machine learning to compare axolotl regeneration with human wound biology.

Ariana Demers earned a Bronze Excellence Award in the Intermediate Division at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, held May 23 to 30 in Edmonton. Her project is titled ‘Conserved Regeneration Signatures in Human Wound Biology.’

“What an incredible feat!” wrote Lockerby Composite School in a social media post Friday.

Demers previously won Best in Fair at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair.

Project uses animal data to study human healing

Demers used machine learning to study axolotl regeneration data and compared it with human gene activity. She built two models: logistic regression, which finds simple patterns, and a random forest model, which can detect more complex biological relationships. The models were combined to give each human gene a “regeneration-likeness” score.

“(Demers) tested this on RNA-seq data comparing keloid scars to normal scars – helping to identify genes linked more closely to healing and regeneration instead of fibrosis,” said the Rainbow District School Board in a news release Monday.

The board added that several of the top-scoring genes remain largely unstudied suggesting they could play important roles in healing and may be promising targets for future regenerative medicine research.

Board offers congratulations

The board’s CEO, Bruce Bourget, extended praise to Demers and other participants.

“I extend sincere congratulations to Ariana Demers for her exceptional showing on the national stage,” Bourget said in the release.

The CEO also recognized the other students who represented the board at the national fair.

“I would also like to acknowledge the students who won the honour of showcasing their projects nationally and thank staff for their tremendous leadership and support of all students who participated in the science fair experience.”

6 board students competed

Demers was among six young scientists from Rainbow Schools who competed at the 2026 Canada-Wide Science Fair.

Other participants from Lockerby Composite School included Farheen Shams, a Grade 10 student with the project ‘Echoes in the Genome: Identifying Cardioprotective Agents,’ and Grade 10 students Alexander Crossgrove and Maria Luisa dos Santos with ‘The Peatland pH Project.’

Lockerby Composite School, in its post, pointed out its students were well represented at the event.

“Our Vikings were certainly well represented and have accomplished amazing feats!” said the school said.

Kruz Bradley, a Grade 7 student from Northeastern Elementary School, presented “De-Muck the Yuck,” while Ishan Shukla, a Grade 7 student from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School – Intermediate, presented “Bio-plastics.”