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RI Coastal Resources Management Council

...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders

CRMC rewards RI students for winning science fair projects

May 5, 2005, WAKEFIELD — The RI Coastal Resources Management Council has awarded savings bonds to six Rhode Island junior, middle and high school students for their winning projects in 2005 Rhode Island Science Teacher's Association, Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair.

This year's CRMC bond recipients presented projects on topics including water quality, floods, treatment for excessive algae growth and wastewater treatment. The six students were winners of the individual science fairs at their schools; teachers are allowed to send as many as 15 winners per school. The Council awarded prizes in the special awards category, which allows organizations and groups to set their own criteria and choose their own winners.

In the Senior Division, for students in grades 9-12, the first place prize of a $100 savings bond from the CRMC was awarded to Theresa Raimondo, a sophomore at LaSalle Academy in Providence, for her project, "Can Duckweed be used to Treat Excessive Algae Growth in Fresh and Salt Water?" Elisa Yam, a sophomore at Scituate High School in North Scituate, was awarded second place and a $50 savings bond for her project titled "The Modern-Day Waste Water Treatment Process." The third place award, also a $50 savings bond, went to Michael Blaess, a sophomore at Portsmouth High School, for his project titled "Is Portsmouth's Community Water Supply Free of Harmful Contaminants?"

The CRMC also awarded three savings bonds in the Junior Division for students in grades 6-8. The winner of the first place $100 savings bond was Katharine Brough, a seventh grader at St. Kevin School in Warwick, for her project, "How Pure is Your Tap Water?" The second place savings bond for $50 went to seventh grader Michael Danielwicz at St. Philip School in Greenville, for his project, "Flood Fury-Keeping it Back." Brittanirose Blair, a seventh grade student at Goff Junior High School in Pawtucket, received third place and a $50 savings bond for her project, "Which Surrounding City near Pawtucket, R.I., has the Highest Quality Drinking Water?"

The students received congratulatory letters and certificates from the CRMC at the end of April, and students will receive their savings bonds at the end of May. The Council has been giving out special awards for the science fair for more than 10 years.

"As part of our educational outreach, the CRMC prides itself in taking part in events like the science fair, which encourage students to get interested in environmental science and other science-related research," said CRMC Chairman Michael M. Tikoian.

"It is vital that we, as Rhode Islanders, provide resources and opportunities for the next generation to learn about their environment and how to manage it responsibly."

Students from 75 schools in Rhode Island, grades 6-12, compete in the science fair. This year's fair featured 300 entries from junior and middle school students and 200 high school students.

This is the 59th year of the science fair, and the 10th year of involvement by the RI Science and Engineering Fair, which took over for the RI Science Teacher's Association. Special awards were established as a way for local businesses and organizations to promote what they do and get students interested in science and engineering-related research. The majority of these awards fall under the water quality and environmental science topics.

The RI Science and Engineering Fair - which is affiliated with the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair - offers 15 science and engineering-related topics for students to choose from. The top two winners of the Rhode Island fair's general awards category go on to compete in the international science fair. This year's fair will be from May 8-14 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Stedman Government Center
Suite 116, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879-1900
Voice 401-783-3370 • Fax 401-783-2069 • E-Mail cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov

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