Big prizes for using your brain

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Those old science fair projects can turn into great things.

Three Kings youth earned special recognition, trips, cash and scholarships at the national science fair in Truro May 18.

While Sarah Tessier of Berwick says she “has” to do a project for school, the Grade 9 Ecole Rose des Vents student knew what she’d be tackling: compost tea.

“It’s a bag of dirt - a fungal compost - and you put it in a bucket of water and use a fish tank pump to get air bubbles through it,” she says.

The compost was one of the exhibits at last summer’s Agrifest in Canning.

“I started listing to the presentation, I like it - it was all natural, plant-based. I did some research starting last summer with the idea of doing a science fair project on it.”

The project’s goal was to evaluate calcium and acids in soil using the compost. After making the national science fair finals in 2005, Tessier won the equivalent of $2,950 in prizes this year: a $750 cash prize from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, a silver medal $700 prize in the Earth & Environmental Sciences class and a $1,500 scholarship to the University of Western Ontario.

The Robinsons in Nicholsville make science a family affair, with a strong tradition in winning with their projects and presentations.

Grade 12 West Kings student Jillian Robinson convinced her family’s sheep to ink their nose prints on photo paper, which she then compared using biometrics and symmetry to see if she could ID who was who, and whether they were ewes, rams or lambs. The resulT; a $1,000 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada award.

Her younger brother, Macall, a Grade 10 West Kings student; used his interest in animals - he has a chameleon, stick bug, hedgehog, cockatiel, several tortoises and access to a full barnyard; along with a part-time job at Oaklawn Zoo - to root his project in.

“A refugium is a biological filter using algae - it filters out nitrates as food, and relies on light for photosynthesis,” he says.

The refugium - one he built with about $800 and some research - has been connected to his 50-gallon saltwater aquarium since January.

“The algae works better - it’s more efficient, fast and there are very few problems.”

Macall’s project attracted the attention of an Australian science-based class trip.

“They liked how I applied it to saltwater, and how I used my aquarium. They have a lot of seacoast, so it relates to them.”

The Australians awarded him one of two National Youth Science Forum Awards: a three-week trip to Australia next December for a two-week conference, a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, a university tour, time with park rangers and a chance to “just get to meet some people,” Macall says.

While he has to come up with airfare, he already has the support of West Kings, his family and his job income to start his savings. And, he’ll miss Christmas at home.

“A trip to Australia - missing Christmas isn’t too much for that.”