Jonathan Delos Santos, bottom left, explains his project on sow bugs to (top left to right) Michael Reilly, Dan Appleman, Richard Bendo and Robert Benton at the Kinnick High School Science Fair on Friday at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. (Jim Schulz / S&S)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — For the second year, Nile C. Kinnick High School student scientists pondered and in some cases probed their worlds for the annual school Science Fair.
Students used imagination and a heavy dose of scientific inquiry to answer some noteworthy questions Friday, such as which long-lasting lipstick lasts longest and whether wearing better clothing garners one better service in a store.
Many topics explored areas of interest to the mostly 10th- and 11th-graders who created the projects, more than 60 in all. But they approached their topics using advanced and often surprising creativity.
“This year I think the science is better,” said science teacher Dave Trajtenberg, who started the fair last year. “I’m actually really pleased.”
His classes began formulating their ideas some months ago. They discussed what makes an interesting project, and the importance of research and analysis to prove a theory, not just believing what’s been written before.
That skill can be applied beyond science, Trajtenberg said.
“They realize there’s articles out there that aren’t necessarily backed by real research and evidence,” he said. “It just gives them a little more analytical view.”
The students use scientific method — drafting an idea, and using experimentation to prove or disprove a hypothesis — but the fair doesn’t just show their ability to follow those steps.
“Most of the kids by 10th or 11th grade can spit out the (scientific) method,” Trajtenberg said.
The projects further demonstrate to the students how prevalent and important science is in general life.
Ideas ranged from serious — such as whether children can tell the difference between candy and pills (they cannot, according to the project) — to the good-to-know, such as how far cellular reception reaches in a tunnel.
One project examined whether current events affect students’ geographical knowledge. Another looked at the impact of competition on swimmers, whether they perform better during actual meets than in practice.
Trajtenberg said he helps students find topics that interest them. Many show the penchants of their creators: lipstick, hair gel, sports and food.
The smart and sparkly cardboard presentations show serious effort, but much of the hard part comes in the earliest stages, he adds.
“The hardest part is always the hardest part every year — finding the perfect question.”
