While most students were focused on earth-bound assignments last week, 12 teams of York Region District School Board secondary students were 1.2 billion kilometers away.
The Alexander Mackenzie (High School) Astronomy Council recently hosted the 2026 Astronomy Fair, where students were challenged to research, design and pitch rovers capable of surviving the extreme conditions of Enceladus, one of Saturn’s most intriguing moons.
This wasn’t a standard science fair; it was a simulation of a professional space agency’s workflow. Within their teams, students took on specialized roles from engineering and logistics to design and communications to successfully complete the mission. Students presented their designs, and in some cases, functioning prototypes, to a panel of professional judges including astronomers, biophysicists, educators and researchers.
Students had the opportunity to participate in further learning and hone their skills through hand-on workshops with Ontario Tech University, the SkyLab at David Dunlap Observatory and a guided tour of the observatory.
“Many students have a strong interest and passion in space, science and Astronomy,” said Benjamin Law, IB DP Coordinator, Alexander Mackenzie High School, “through this first-ever event with the theme and focus of Astronomy, we believe this event can open up future possible opportunities for more students to participate in.”
Congratulations to all the participants and to the winners:
1st: Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School
2nd: Markville Secondary School
3rd: Markham District High School
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