Scientific innovations and giving back to the local community were on display Saturday at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s annual science and engineering fair.
The event has evolved over the decades, and this year introduced science-based services projects into the mix as a way for students to interact with the community.
Hunter Bolduck and Matt Day, both juniors, won an award for a baseball clinic they ran for students aged six to 11 at the West Tisbury school.
“Our main goal was to run a fun, simple clinic for kids and to inspire the next generation,” said Mr. Day.
The two students are both on the high school’s baseball team. They drew on their experience and researched physiology to put the clinic together.
“We took what we learned from 10 years of playing baseball and used it for the greater good, so the kids can learn to stretch now and not at 16,” Mr. Bolduck said.
Natalie Munn, a chemistry teacher at the high school and founder of the science fair, said that it is the latest addition to a fair that has grown over the past 26 years.
“We originally just had investigative projects. Around 15 years ago, we added engineering projects,” she said. “Service learning is such a wonderful thing. If a student wants to help, you can support them in class and help them scaffold it.”
Shevaun Brown won the grand prize for his project: Best Soil for Green Roof Seedums!
Several engineering and investigative projects tackled local issues.
Senique Wilson, a senior, developed a remote-controlled vehicle to help with seeding clam beds, which could help place the seeds more carefully and protect them from predators. Ms. Wilson won second place in the engineering category for her project, along with the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group Award and an award in the earth science category.
“I really like building things and oceanography is really cool. I grew up on the beach,” Ms. Wilson said.
Sophomores Zoe Treitman and Talia Young investigated the impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms by monitoring the effect of pH levels.
“The ocean is getting more acidic and we wanted to know the impact,” said Ms. Treitman. “We wanted to understand the ripple effect.”
She explained that acidity kills algae and also destroys calcium carbonate shells.
The pair won the Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association Award and an award in the chemical research category.
Students from Dana Munn’s physics class participated in their own engineering competition, specifically building and testing wind turbines. Sylvi Caroll and Xavier Clarke, both seniors, turned on the small wind tunnel in the back of the cafeteria to test their turbine and discussed the results with their teacher. According to Mr. Munn, the project allows students to work through a practical engineering application of what they are learning in their physics class.
“With Cape Wind and Vineyard Wind, it’s relevant to the community,” he said.
Anna Cotton, an earth sciences teacher and science fair coordinator, said that the event gives people a chance to celebrate students’ academic achievements.
“They’re doing real service. They’re solving real problems and answering real questions.... It’s really amazing to see their growth over the years,” Ms. Cotton said.
Grand Prize (Dr. James H. Poter Tisbury Waterway Inc. Award):
Shevaun Brown
First Place Investigative Award:
Emmett Taylor
First Place Engineering Award:
Gabriel Waters
Wind Turbine Award:
Sylvi Carroll and Xavier Clarke
Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group Award:
Senique Wilson
Lagoon Pond Association Award:
Gus Coogan
Island Growth Initiative Award:
Leah deBetterncourt
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