A high school student from Guelph, Ontario, has earned a spot at a national science fair after turning her family’s interest in squirrels into a unique experiment. Kira Egete, a 15-year-old student at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, shared her excitement about her unexpected journey from a Grade 10 project to the upcoming Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton, where she will join 400 other students for a week of scholarship opportunities and networking.
Kira’s project stemmed from her family’s fondness for squirrels, which developed after their move to Canada in 2014. Curious about how squirrels perceive the world, she conducted a backyard experiment to study their color preferences. Contrary to her initial hypothesis based on dog vision studies, Kira discovered that squirrels were most attracted to red and yellow colors, with grey being the least favored.
Transforming her backyard into a controlled testing site, Kira set up five differently colored pots, monitored by a lux meter app for brightness consistency, to observe squirrel interactions. Through 50 trials, she analyzed the squirrels’ responses, leading to unexpected results that challenged existing assumptions. Kira believes her findings could have practical applications in wildlife rehabilitation and pest control strategies.
Recognized for her innovative project, Kira advanced from her school’s science fair to the regional level and eventually secured a spot at the national competition. Despite her nerves, the positive feedback and recognition from judges fueled her ambition. Beyond her scientific pursuits, Kira is actively involved in charity work and extracurricular activities at school.
Looking ahead, Kira envisions a future in STEM fields, possibly in engineering or medicine, driven by her newfound passion for science. As she prepares for the Canada-Wide Science Fair, Kira remains captivated by the adorable creatures that inspired her remarkable journey.
