Katie Vandersloot & Rachel Brown


their latest project. This year, their project is a continuation of their 2011 entry. They are looking at triclosan – an antibacterial agent added to a lot of everyday products – and seeing its effect on local water systems. The pair has won a bronze medal at the National Science Fair, a UNESCO award, and even saw the development of a petition against triclosan.


And when the topic of triclosan comes up, these two fun and chatty honor roll teenagers turn all business. Talk turns to petri dishes, lab tests and patterns. They start and finish each other’s sentences and quickly get wrapped up in their own conversation about science stuff.


“It’s great because with science projects you get to not only find answers, but also ask the questions,” says Rachel.


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In her flip flops and Lulu pants, Katie Van der Sloot walks up to the counter and confidently orders two specialty coffees. Extra hot. After all, that’s how her best friend and award-winning science fair partner likes her caffeine-infused drink.


“When we met back in grade school, we were instantly best friends,” says 17-year- old Katie of 18-year-old Rachel Brown.


You’d have to be pretty darn close friends to do what these two self-described science nerds have done. They’ve been science fair partners since grade 7 – and have gone on to the National Science Fair five years in a row. “It’s been a pretty good run,” says Rachel, who with Katie headed to PEI in mid-May for their final national fair.


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Over the past two years, the pair has spent more than 600 hours researching


Their love for science started in Grade 7, thanks to a science teacher who made the topic exciting and fun. Now they both say it’s their turn to give something back. When they’re not in the lab doing research, they’re helping out younger kids appreciate science by


mentoring them and helping them with their own projects.


“Our adolescent years were shaped by science fairs,” says Rachel, who also competes in track and field.


And they wouldn’t have it any other way. “We’ve always been inspired by the fun side of science,” says Katie, who also plays piano and has swum competitively.


Right now, these two very well- rounded best friends are savoring every moment together before they head off to universities on opposite ends of the country in the fall – Katie will be attending Quest University in BC while Rachel will head off to Brescia University in London, Ont.


“We just try to not think about it too much,” says Katie, of parting ways with her best friend.


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