The Maine State Science Fair is an annual competition that attracts the top student researchers in the state. A team of judges rate projects on scientific thought, creative ability, thoroughness, skill and clarity.
Mt. Ararat High School students Sam Wood, Izzy Leon and Cat Johnson gave presentations at the March 24 fair, according to science teacher Glenn Evans.
Students from Morse High School, Greely High School, Maine School of Science and Math, George Stevens Academy, Mt. Desert Island High School, Lawrence High School, Deer Isle-Stonington High School, and Scarborough High School also participated.
Students entered about 100 projects in six major categories. The overall top two projects gain all-expense paid trips to Pittsburgh for the INTEL International Science Fair in May.
According to a Mt. Ararat press release, Wood entered his research on “Exposure of Teens to High Decibel Levels from MP3 Players” in the “Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine, and Plant Science” category. His original research design, methods, analyses and results were recognized with a U.S. Air Force Certificate of Achievement as well as a first place for the category. His entry also won second place for best in fair, $700 in savings bonds and $ 500 in cash.
Leon’s “How Soil Moisture and Air Temperature Affect a Population of Pea Clams in Harpswell, Maine” competed in the “Animal, Behavioral and Social Science Category.”
Leon spent eight months making weekly environmental and population density measurements on pea clams that inhabit vernal pools. Her work collecting detailed data and her population fluctuation findings earned her a U.S. Air Force Certificate of Achievement, an American Meteorological Society Certificate of Outstanding Achievement, first place for the category and $200 in savings bonds.
Johnson’s “Nitrogen Filtration in Soil Mixtures” project competed in the “Energy and Transportation, Environmental Science” category.
Evans, the students’ biology teacher, assisted each project and said that he was extremely impressed with the outstanding research and presentation of all three projects, according to the release.
“Many students have interest and start on projects, but it takes special skills and drive for a student to follow through all the way to the state science fair,” Evans said. “ Each project represents countless hours of work. I was very proud of how all three students diligently remained by their display boards for the threehour judging period when they cheerfully explained their projects numerous times to several groups of judges and many members of the public.”
Wood’s overall second place finish earned him one of the two spots at the INTEL International Science Fair.
Also representing Maine at the INTEL competition will be Meagen Currie from Greely High School, whose seaweed project earned the first place overall award at the state science fair.
According to the release, Morse High School seniors Schuyler Mace and Max Rawson took second place in the “Earth, Physics and Astronomy” category with their project, titled “ The Impact of Geology and Landscape on Chemical Properties of Water in 4 Tributaries in Brookings Bay.”
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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