Bend Science Station students win at science fair
Five Bend Science Station middle school students who conducted scientific research over the past year presented their results at this year’s Northwest Science Exposition in Portland on Saturday.
One “Best in Fair,” three “Best in Category” awards, two first place awards, and $200 in prize money were among the highlights for these students at the Intel-sponsored science fair, which drew more than 346 presentation boards and 408 students from Oregon, Washington and Idaho. All five participants were invited to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS national science fair.
Jimmy Plumleigh, a 7th grader at Cascade Middle school, took “Best in Category” in Medicine and Health and was also awarded the grand prize of “Best in Fair”. His research project, titled Cystic Fibrosis Screening: Detection of gene mutation through hypertonic sodium chloride effects, attempted to find an alternative screening method for Cystic Fibrosis using blue towel bleaching. Jimmy also received a Merit in Statistics award and $50 in prize money.
Harper Smith, a 7th grade homeschool student, took “Best in Category” in Consumer Product Testing, an Excellence in Statistics award, and $100 in prize money. Her research project, titled S.C.O.B.Y’s Sweet Tooth, demonstrated that different sugars dramatically affect the fermentation rate of kombucha S.C.O.B.Y. and that kombucha S.C.O.B.Y. is lactose intolerant.
Raven Dow-Hygelund, a 7th grade Baker Charter school student, took “Best in Category” in Animal Science and a $50 prize. Her research project, titled Effects of Temperature on Jumping Performance of Invasive American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeiana) at Different Developmental Stages, showed that increased temperatures improved jumping performance and that juvenile frogs jumped farther than adults in proportion to body length.
Jack Conde, a 7th grader at Pacific Crest Middle school, took first place in Microbiology. His research project, titled Growth of Microbes on Mars-Like Media, demonstrated that Iron oxide infused agar plates, which simulated the surface of Mars, inhibited microbial diversity.
Teaghan Knox, a 6th grade homeschool student, took first place in Plant Science. Her research project, titled Buttercrunch’s Favorite Food: Growing Lettuce in Varying Aquaponic Systems, showed that under fluorescent light, lettuce growing in aquaponic systems containing snails grew significantly taller than the same lettuce in soil. However, under natural light this pattern reversed, with the lettuce in soil growing significantly taller than in the aquaponics system
The Bend Science Station is a learning laboratory which provides science education for Central Oregon, offering innovative curriculum to students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, and inquiry-based training for their teachers. The Bend Science Station teaches public, private and home school students through school year programs, summer camps and partnerships with community agencies. Last year, the Bend Science Station taught more than 7,000 students and 175 teachers from 38 schools across Central Oregon.
