The scientific method and the various ways science touches daily life were on full display at a recent academic competition.
Thomas County Central High School Science Fair took place Dec. 7 in the school’s media center. Out of almost 60 entries, six students earned first place honors, six students received second place designations and seven students garnered third place recognition.
“Every year, I am impressed by the hard work, scientific process and critical thinking that goes into each project,” TCCHS Science Department co-chair Meagan Bradshaw said. “So much time and effort are in these projects, and I am extremely proud of the wonderful entries that were produced.”
Mark Thompson, TCCHS computer science teacher and a fair judge, says a winning project should have the following components: thoroughness, research, good data analysis, ideas for improvement in conclusion, and be either an original idea or an original approach.
Renee Marcinski, Thomas County Middle School science teacher who was a guest judge, said she could tell some projects were original and that a lot of thought went into them.
Freshman Laura Hiers earned a first place award for her project “The Use of Substitute Items to Fingerprint Crime Scenes.”
“I conducted an experiment to prove or disprove that common items such as cinnamon, cornstarch, pepper, flour and finishing powder can be used to dust for fingerprints at crime scenes,” she explains. “I chose this topic because I became interested in forensics over the summer when I completed the Duke TIP Summer Studies CSI course.”
Hiers is pleasantly surprised to earn first place but adds she had fun experimenting.
“I enjoy conducting my own experiments and learning in a tactile, hands on way,” she said.
TCCHS automotive teacher Michael Clapper also judged the fair’s entries. The project that most stood out to him had a visually stunning board, was organized and continued a process from previous years.
“It shows how a good idea can yield results,” he said.
One student who continued a previous idea and placed in the fair is Karsyn Bush. Her project is titled “That Sounds Intense.”
“I wanted to participate in science fair because I had a lot of fun with my project last year, and I thought it would be cool if I did a continuation,” she said. “The purpose of my project was to find a way to build a guitar out of recycled materials and have a better decibel level than my guitar from last year because my project is a continuation. I chose this topic because I am very passionate about music and I want kids in poor communities to have the same opportunity as me.”
The freshman earned a first place honor.
“I am very excited that I received first place because I worked very hard on my project and display,” Bush said.
Science fair is an annual tradition at TCCHS and countless other schools across the country. Clapper says such fairs are important because they show there is a method to the madness.
“They teach students how to solve problems and find answers or solutions,” he said. “It helps them to think critically, research, test out theories, analyze results and form conclusions.”
All students who placed in the TCCHS science fair are qualified to compete at the regional level in February 2019 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.
Bush plans to use the judges’ comments to help improve her project.
Hiers intends to do some editing and practicing.
“I would like to revise and edit my abstract and prepare for the interview portion of judging at the regional level,” she said.
First Place
The Use of Substitute Items to Fingerprint Crime Scenes ~ Laura Hiers
Does Blue Light from Cell Phones Affect Sleep ~ Kaylee Barrett
Plant Watering ~ Carson Landing
The Best Soil ~ Brittany Beckwith
Burning for Big Change ~ Bradley Dechman
That Sounds Intense ~ Karsyn Bush
Second Place
Language Families ~ Anna James
Ant Memory ~ Landrie Miller
To Bleed or Not to Bleed ~ Christian Miranda and Bryson Bennett
Spray on Wipe off ~ Bryan Williams and Wesley Rivera
To Breach or Not to Breach ~ Gaelle Gasque
Best Way to Kill a Dove ~ Mary Blake Smith and Jay Cooper
Third Place
Do You See What I See ~ Georgia Rose Patton
Fear Factor ~ Morgan Ward
Merely Coincidence ~ Danielle Sauls
The More You Grow ~ Kristen Williams
Effects of Aspirin on Radish Growth ~ Andrew Barrentine
Vitamin C Ya Later ~ Aubrey Miller and Cameron Parker
Metal Works ~ Randy Sowell