CRMC rewards RI students for science fair projects

April 6, 2010, 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 2010 Amgen Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair.

This year’s science and engineering fair took place on March 27 at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus in Warwick, and showcased engineering, science and environmental projects from 65 schools and more than 450 students from grades 6 through 12. This year students showed a total of 423 projects, and the CRMC awarded bonds for projects ranging from trash, impacts of pollution on marine life, and water quality to popular topics such as airport de-icing methods and wind turbine blade design.

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 Nathan Andrews of Bishop Hendricken High School for his project, “Does the Airport’s De-Icing Affect Water Quality?” Robert Checani of La Salle Academy was awarded the second place prize of a $50 savings bond for his project, “How are Bodies of Water in Southern New England Affected by Eutrophication in Proximity to Sewage Treatment Plans?” Third place and a $50 savings bond went to Elysha Grant of Mount Hope High School for her project, “Daphnia and Pollution.”

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 Rachel Simoneau from Saint Mary Academy Bay View for her project, “Trash Air-Anator.” The second place savings bond for $50 went to Mallory Johnson from La Salle Academy-PEGASUS 7/8 for her project, “The Effect of Depth on Dissolved Oxygen, Salinity and Temperature in the Narrow River.” Alex Murdock, J.P. McGrath and Matthew Walker, all of Curtis Corner Middle School, received third place and a $50 savings bond for their project, “What is the Optimal Wind Turbine Blade Design?”

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 62nd year of the science fair, and the fourth 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 San Jose, California.