Five Va. students named semifinalists in national science contest - News

Five Va. students named semifinalists in national science contest

Monday, Sep 08, 2008 - 10:22 AM

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Five of the 300 semifinalists selected for the Society for Science & the Public's 2008 Middle School Program are from Virginia.

Of the five, three are from the greater Richmond area and participated in the Metro Richmond Science Fair. They are:

Abi-Falah, Layla (Grade 7) George H. Moody Middle School (Henrico County): "The Effect of a Coronal Mass Ejection Position in Relation to the Sun on Its Velocity."

Aibara, Arius (Grade 8) Manchester Middle School (Chesterfield County): "Turbulence and Wing Shapes."

Imbrie-Moore, Annabel (Grade 8) Peabody School (Charlottesville): "The Traveling School Bus Problem."

Hartnett, Kevin (Grade 7) Archbishop Neale School (La Plata): "Testing the Waters."

Wojcicki, Samuel (Grade 8) Powhatan Junior High School (Powhatan County): "Finding the Energy Solution: The Effect of Enclosing a Windmill in a Tunnel on the Energy It Produces at Different Speeds."

This year's semifinalists were selected from 1,943 entrants representing 253 affiliated science fairs across the United States and Puerto Rico.

The 300 semifinalists represent 42 states and Puerto Rico and include 177 males and 123 females. These students, who were fifththrough eighth-graders when their entries were submitted, won the nomination by excelling at their regional or state science fair.

Entrants submitted written essays of their science, math and engineering projects. Projects of selected semifinalists included research on water purification and fuel cells, mathematical algorithms and the amount of lead in a student lunchbox.

Elizabeth Marincola, president of the Society for Science & the Public, said, "These talented young scientists are already stepping up to meet the great scientific challenges of tomorrow. Their work will have a real impact on generations to come and reaffirms the vision of Society for Science & the Public to inform, educate and inspire the world around us."

On Sept. 17, 30 national finalists will be named from the 300 semifinalists and will receive a free trip to Washington, D.C., for a four-day event to be held in October.

In the nation's capital, the finalists will compete for more than $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 Oct. 22.

Society for Science & the Public (formerly Science Service), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the public engagement in scientific research and education, owns and has administered the national middle school science program since 1999.

For more information, visit www.societyforscience.org.