Potato Commission recognizes mid-Columbia science fair winners

“As much as anything else, farming is science,” says Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission. “That’s why the Commission believes in encouraging scientific curiosity and exploration by today’s youth.”

Voigt is describing the reason the Commission supported the Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair with cash awards to the exhibits judged best in each grade.  Science projects were created by students in the 6^th – 12^th grade from throughout eastern Washington.  Their projects were on display earlier this month at the Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick.  March is National Science Fair Month.

“I had a lot of fun working on this project, ‘Modeling of Ionotophoresis,’ and I learnt a lot,” winner of the award in the senior division Shruthi Baskaran of Kennewick High School wrote to the Commission. “Your award has motivated me to continue to develop my interest in science and engineering.”  Ionotophoresis has to do with a technique for electrical stimulation and movement of chemicals through the skin.

Other award-winning projects were “Llama dung vs Store Bought Fertilizer,” Cienna Manderbach, Enterprise MS; “Are You Really Going to Eat That? (What you should really know about the 3-second rule),” Jenna Berlin, Christ the King; “Can Vegetation Capture Carbon Dioxide Effectively?”, Akshai Baskaran, Desert Hills Middle School; “Polluted Asphalt Runoff and Its Impact On Freshwater Invertebrates,” Samantha Gaudette, West Valley High School; “Effects of Leaf Fermentation on the Absorption of Pollutants in Storm Drain Systems,” Diana Mendoza, Sunnyside High School.

Judging of exhibits was conducted by researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Prosser, Washington, who approached the Commission requesting their participation.

Scientist-judges included Plant Pathologist Lyndon Porter, Research Geneticist Roy Navarre, Plant Pathologist Richard Larsen, and Plant Pathologist Jim Crosslin, who were aided by Biological Science Technician Becky Cochran and Research Affiliate Amber Moore.

Interestingly enough, in an age when educators are worried about the lack of women in math and science, all but one student, Akshai Baskaran, were female.  “I think the science fair proves that girls are smarter,” says Lyndon Porter. “Rats!”

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