CRMC rewards RI students for winning science fair projects

April 10, 2009, 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 the 2009 Amgen Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair.

This year’s science and engineering fair took place on March 21 at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus in Warwick, and showcased engineering, science and environmental projects from 65 schools and students from grades 6 through 12. This year students showed a total of 445 projects, and the CRMC awarded bonds for projects ranging from seafood sustainability and biodegradability to current hot topics like coral reef peril and biofuel.
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 CRMC 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 Katie Rockwell of St. Mary Academy Bay View for her project, “Road Salt Safety vs. the Environment.” Kathleen Welch of Mount St. Charles was awarded the second place prize of a $50 savings bond for her project, “Biodegradability.” Third place and a $50 savings bond went to John Cunha from LaSalle Academy for his project, “Saving Nemo: Seafood Sustainability and the Future of Our Oceans.” Alexia Malone Oliver from Bay View received honorable mention from the division for her project, “Who’s Eating My Oysters?”

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 Julianna Marandola from Cranston Johnston Catholic Regional School for her project, “The Coral Collapse.” The second place savings bond for $50 went to Eric Fortier from Christ the Redemmer Academy for his project, “Can Algae Be a Reliable Source of Biofuel?” Caroline Roughneen, from St. Philomena School, received third place and a $50 savings bond for her project, “The Effects of Methoprene on the Thickness of Lobster Shells.” The honorable mention award for the junior division went to Annie Vendetti and Elizabeth DaPonte from St. Philomena School for their project, “Is There Pollution in the Kickemuit River?”

The students received congratulatory letters and certificates from the CRMC, and 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.

“The CRMC is honored to continue in judging the projects at the Amgen Science and Engineering Fair,” said CRMC Chairman Michael M. Tikoian. “It is so important to provide education for the next generation to get excited about science and related fields, and to learn about their environment and how to manage it responsibly. Each year the students entering the fair astound us with their understanding of Rhode Island and national environmental and engineering issues and concepts.”

This is the 61st year of the science fair, and the third year that Amgen has served as the title sponsor. 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 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 in Reno, Nevada.