An expert jury awarded prizes for the top three projects. The judges were Sean Gryb, Hooley McLaughlin and Crystal Mowry.

Sean Gryb

Sean Gryb is a PhD Candidate at the University of Waterloo and studies theoretical physics at the Perimeter Institute. His research involves trying to see if the fundamental mechanism behind gravity is to smooth out the “shape” of the universe. He believes strongly in science communication and has participated in dozens of student and teacher talks, workshops and videos as well as public events.

Hooley McLaughlin

Hooley McLaughlin, Ph.D. is the Director of Visitor Experience, Ontario Science Centre. Coming from a background in bio-medical research, Dr. McLaughlin joined the Ontario Science Centre in 1987 as Staff Biologist.  He has participated in a number of management and project leadership roles.  His exhibition interests have included topics ranging from investigations into bias and prejudice; sport; psychology; nanotechnology and materials science; space exploration; the nature of time; and the bringing together of art and science.  Working with colleagues and the public, both at home and around the world, he continues to enjoy trying to make the difficult seem easy.

Crystal Mowry

Crystal Mowry is an artist and curator currently based in Cambridge, Ontario. She is currently the Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (as of where she has recently curated solo exhibition projects featuring Janice Kerbel (UK), Kelly Richardson (UK), Adriana Kuiper (Sackville, NB), and Seth (Guelph, ON). Her own artwork examines wonder, scale, and knowledge in speculative –and sometimes fictitious– versions of tourist-destination landscapes.This spring her work will be featured in Natural History, a group exhibition at Justina M. Barnicke Gallery (U of T). Crystal’s independent curatorial projects include /The Terrarium Project,/ an interdisciplinary collaboration with filmmaker Gail Singer, designer / historians David Ross and Rebecca Duclos, artist / curator Andrew T. Hunter, and artist Denton Fredrickson co-curated with Panya Clark Espinal. /The Terrarium Project/ was one of the recipients of the Harbourfront Centre’s inaugural Fresh Grounds Commissions.

In addition, five participants will be selected to develop their projects further for a major exhibition to be held at Harbourfront Centre in the fall of 2010. This curation is separate from the prizes awarded at the fair.