North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as 2008 SSP Middle School Program Semifinalists from the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair!

This year’s 300 semifinalists were selected from 1,943 entrants representing 253 affiliated science fairs across the Unites States and Puerto Rico. The 300 semifinalists represent 42 states and Puerto Rico and include 177 males and 123 females. These top young scientists, in 5th through 8th grades when their entry was submitted, won the nomination by excelling at their regional or state science fair.

On September 17, 30 national finalists will be named from among these 300 semifinalists and will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for a four day event to be held in October. In the nation’s capital, these finalists will compete for over $40,000 in scholarships provided by the Society for Science & the Public. The top 10 winners will be selected based on presentation of their original science fair project and participation in team scientific activities to be held at the Koshland Science Museum and announced on October 22.

Jody Bettencourt and Erika Williams, Brevard Middle School - Brevard
Green-Crete

Anthony Dyer, Murrayville Elementary School - Wilmington
A Study of How Various Wing Profiles Affect Wind Vortexes on Fixed Wing Aircraft

Aakash Gandhi, Hope Middle School - Greenville
The Effects of Playing String Instruments on the Human Phalanges

Daniel Tidwell, Perry Harrison Elementary - Pittsboro
Nutpower! Can Biodiesel Fuel Be Made from Nuts?

Teacher Workshops:
The North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair sponsored several workshops in July for teachers in grades 3-8 and grades 9-12. Short introductory workshops were given at the Summer Science Leadership Conference given by the NC Department of Public Instruction. Two full day workshops were given for teachers on July 21 and 22. Each workshop provided information on how teachers can implement scientific research into their curriculum and meet the NC Standard Course of Study. Specific information on using student research projects for the new NC Graduation Project requirement was also discussed. Two additional full day workshops were given in Gastonia, NC for area teachers in August.

NC Regional Science and Engineering Fairs will be held in February 2009. Students participating at the regional level must first have participated in a local science fair. The state level Fair will be held on March 27-28, 2009 at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. Additional information may be found at www.ncsta.org/sciencefair or by contacting Judy Day, State Fair Director, at Judy_Day@ncsu.edu.

North Carolina Envirothon

West Johnston High School Places 8th at North American Envirothon Competition

Congratulations go out the West Johnston High School Sequoias! The Sequoias placed 8th out 54 teams from the United States and Canada at this year's North American Canon Envirothon competition in Flagstaff Arizona.  The team missed the top five ranking by less than 5 points.

The West Johnston High School team scored the highest score in the history of the state Envirothon with a score of 496 points out of a possible score of 500 points.  The team worked together for four years studying hard to reach this level of excellence.  The team is sponsored by the Johnston Soil & water Conservation District. 

The Envirothon has five study areas: Soils/land use, aquatic ecology, wildlife, forestry and current environmental issues.  The team is coached by Melody Lineberger and Heather Earp. Team members are: Erin Lineberger, Thomas Lineberger, Lewis Braswell, Frankie Johnson, and Stephanie Tolar. 

The Envirothon is North America’s largest high school environmental education competition. The national competition has a test in each of the five subject areas, and also has an oral component in which the teams are given a real life environmental problem and they have to devise a plan to solve the problem, prepare posters, develop a budget and then give a 20 minute oral presentation on their proposed solution.

To get to the NC State Envirothon, each team has to go through an Area competition and place in the top seven.  There is a resource curriculum for each of the five sections that they study to prepare for the Area and State competitions.  It is a real test of character and dedication that these students have been together studying this summer when other students will be swimming, going to movies, and just doing normal activities.

Bruce Miller, Chairman of the State Envirothon Committee stated:  “These are very dedicated and intelligent students who represented North Carolina well at the national event in Arizona.  North Carolina is hosting the 2009 Canon Envirothon in the western part of the state and are looking forward to having a great event.”

There were over 350 Envirothon teams participating in the middle school and high school levels in North Carolina.  For more information about Envirothon, please contact Steve Bennett at (steve.bennett@ncmail.net) 919-791-4307.