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 an experiment. Kira Egete, a 15-year-old student at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, shared that what began as a Grade 10 project has now led her to the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton, where she will join 400 other students for a week of competition.
Kira expressed her excitement about the upcoming event, where participants can win scholarships and awards while connecting with peers who share their scientific passion. Her project focused on studying how squirrels react to different colors, inspired by her family’s fondness for the animals since moving to Canada in 2014.
The research question that intrigued Kira was centered on understanding squirrel vision and how they perceive the world. She discovered that, similar to dogs, squirrels have dichromatic vision, which affects their ability to distinguish certain colors. Contrary to her initial hypothesis based on dog vision studies, Kira’s backyard experiment revealed that squirrels showed a preference for red and yellow colors over cooler tones like blue and green.
By meticulously setting up a controlled testing ground in her backyard with color-coated pots and recording squirrel interactions with a GoPro camera, Kira conducted 50 trials to analyze the squirrels’ color preferences. The unexpected results challenged her assumptions and led her to consider practical applications, such as using specific colors to attract or deter squirrels in wildlife rehabilitation settings.
Kira’s dedication to her project caught the attention of Alana Harrison, the school’s library technician who oversees the science fair. Harrison commended Kira’s passion and initiative, noting how she embraced her fascination with squirrels and pursued it wholeheartedly. Following success at the school fair and the regional competition, Kira is eager to showcase her project at the national level and explore new opportunities beyond her home province of Ontario.
In addition to her scientific achievements, Kira is actively involved in charity work, robotics, track, and other school activities, earning praise from her school community for her outstanding contributions. As she looks ahead to a potential future in STEM fields like engineering or medicine, Kira remains captivated by the charm of squirrels and the wonders of scientific exploration.