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Pupils participate in state science fair
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| By LISETTE VELASQUEZ, Staff Writer |
March 14, 2003 |
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NEW BRITAIN -- Four New Britain pupils represented their school Thursday in the 55th annual Connecticut Science Fair at Quinnipiac University.
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Youngsters at Sacred Heart School advanced, in a series of science fairs, to the state competition, where more than 600 middle-school and high-school students participated. The competition is geared to have students explore original scientific and engineering ideas.
Eighth-graders Diane Turka, Karolina Wierzbicka and Matthew Lenczewski and seventh-grader Adam Markow worked independently to test their hypothesis using the scientific method.
"It was the first time for all of us in the state competition," said Lenczewski."It began as a mandatory science project for the school’s science fair."
Lenczewski, 13, studied the durability of various woods, using cedar, oak, Douglas fir, poplar and pressure-treated pine.His experiment concluded that the pine would withstand various weather conditions.
Turka, 13, compared the accuracy of various types of thermometers to the medically preferred alcohol-based thermometer.
She concluded that although digital and other thermometers have both advantages and disadvantages, digital thermometers give the most accurate readings.
Wierzbicka, 15, borrowed the idea from her sister to test the best temperature to grow crystals.
Markow, 12, with an interest in dental hygiene, experimented with his own teeth to compare the effectiveness of tooth whiteners.
"Basically, if you brush your teeth regularly you don’t need a whitener," Markow said."I love (science). It’s fun for me to figure out things about nature and human beings."
Although students from more than 130 schools will participate, fair organizers agree this year’s students from Sacred Heart have a fighting chance.
"Sacred Heart is a very strong competitor," said Bob Wisner, fair director."Through the Connecticut Science Fair, three Connecticut students in the past four years went on to win the International Science and Engineering Fair and represented the United States at the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm."
Using their recreation time, the students worked for several weeks on their projects with limited guidance from adults, as other schools have local business or science-professional involvement.All four pupils agree their interest in science has been nurtured by their science teacher, Nancy Johnson.
"She is very dedicated to her work," Turka said."She believes in us and makes sure we do well."
"This competition is open to all schools. At one time, other schools (in New Britain) were involved," said Sister Jennifer of Sacred Heart."It is up to the teachers to provide this opportunity to their students so that learning doesn’t end at 3 o’clock."
In an awards ceremony Thursday, which marked the conclusion of the contest on the state level, Markow was one of only 147 chosen as finalists to compete for top honors.
"This competition is not just about winning, but about learning," Markow said, before the announcement was made. "It’s more important to do your work well because in the journey of learning there are hardships and plenty of rewards."
Seventh-grade partners Ryan Helfrich and Scott Kelleher of Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington also were chosen finalists.
For more information about the fair, log on to www.CTScienceFair.org.
Lisette Velasquez can be reached at lvelasquez@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, ext. 320. |
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©The Herald 2003
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