Einsteins in the making

Plenty of impressive medals and ribbons were handed out to the 208 proud student scientists whose creative projects were on display at the 2005 Meneley Elementary School Science Fair on Feb. 24.

The students' projects focused on scientific inquiry and discovery. Each project posed a question that was answered by experimentation. Projects ranged from what commercial detergent best removes ketchup stains, comparing strengths of paper towels, garbage bags and batteries, to marble racing and which has more vitamin C, vegetable juice or orange juice.

First-place winners in their grades and project names are as follows:

Sixth-graders: Adrana Romanowitz's "Need Nitrates No!," Zac Brady's "Hold Your Temperature;"

Fifth-graders: Hunter Fillmore's "Experiment in Rust Removal," Austin Martin's "Ice Baby," Conner Michitarian's "Weather Destroyed" and Dillon Hekhuis' "Burn Baby Burn;"

Fourth-graders: Andrew Hettrick's "Egg in a Bottle" and Taylor McKinnon's "B-B Bouncing Temperatures."

Forty-two judges at the science fair voted to qualify the winners imaginative and intriguing projects, along with those of four other schoolmates, in the Western Nevada Regional Science and Engineering Fair in Reno later this month.

"The purpose of the fair is a fun, hands-on way to get students familiar with the scientific inquiry process, use experiments with controled variables, record and analyze data and form conclusions," said science fair organizer Cathy Hackler, adding that students provided a list of procedures for their experiments that anyone could later follow. "Students first formed a hypothesis (educated guess) and then set about finding an answer to it through experimentation."

Fifth-grader Austin Park wanted to know which brand of soda would produce the most fizz when the bottle cap was loosened. His project called "Fizz Whiz" included using 15 two-liter bottles, including three each of Pepsi, Sierra Mist, A&W, Coke and Diet Rite.

"I thought Coke would fizz the most because it had the most sodium," said Austin, who used balloons, measuring tape and his parents to help conduct the experiment.

Austin turned each bottle cap a half turn, waited 10 seconds (controlled variable) then quickly slipped on a deflated balloon over the opening as the balloon filled with the released gas.

He immediately took a measuring tape and recorded the circumference of the balloon.

"Pepsi fizzed the most. It averaged 12 inches for each of the three balloons," said the young scientist, whose refrigerator at home is now filled with flat soda.

Austin's display included soda bottles, inflated balloons and measuring tape. He also included written information on the project's question, hypothesis, procedure, results, problems and acknowledgments.

Judge Jim Dunn gave Austin's project high marks for scientific thought and physical display. This is Dunn's third year serving as a judge.

"I enjoy taking part in the fair and talking with the kids," said Dunn, who is retired. "Each year the experiments are better. The kids are getting the message about making good projects."

In addition to the class winners who are advancing to regional competition in Reno are sixth-graders Rose Lambino's "Gassy Situations" and Shelby Jordan's "Fashion Smashin' Nails;" fifth-graders Chani Frazier's "Miracle No" and Danjeh Baker's "How best to Store Popcorn."