28 August 2009 - The 2009 NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair has again been a resounding success, with nearly 600 intermediate and secondary school students taking part.

The Fair, sponsored by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), is open for public viewing today and tomorrow morning at Victoria University of Wellington. Prizes will be awarded tomorrow, Saturday 29 August, starting at 1pm.

“This year’s record number of entries covered a huge range of original and innovative topics, from energy alternatives to the colour of egg yolks, windbreaks to natural dyes,” says Chief Judge Gillian Turner, from the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University.  “The judges were impressed at the high level of scientific investigation undertaken by students from year 7 upwards, and were hard-pressed to choose the eventual prizewinners from so many excellent entrants.”

Top prizewinners:

Zofia Arthur, a Year 8 student from Queen Margaret College, won the $700 Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch prize for best overall exhibit with her project: ‘Need a break? Get a windbreak’. Zofia tested various designs of fences, and eventually concluded that the energy-absorbing qualities of a good hedge made it the most effective windbreak.  Zofia was also judged first in Class 2.

Thang Tran, a Year 13 student from Wellington College, won the Victoria School Excellence Scholarship of a first year university fees scholarship. Thang’s project was: ‘The effect of temperature on Vitamin C’.  Thang carried out an extremely detailed chemistry investigation, which impressed the judges because of its thoroughness, attention to detail and accuracy. Thang was also judged first in Class 5.

Nika Thomson, a Year 12 student at Sacred Heart College,  won the Victoria University Faculty of Science prize of a first year university fees scholarship for an outstanding Class 5 (Years 11–13) exhibit. Nika’s project: ‘The effect of exercise on insulin requirements of Type 1 Diabetics’ was judged second in Class 5. Nika also impressed the judges by the care and thoroughness with which she planned and carried out her project, in which children’s blood sugar levels were monitored before and after a controlled exercise regime, clearly showing the benefits of exercise.

Other age class winners:

Class 1 (Year 7):  

Petra Bogle, Karori Normal School, for: ‘What types of chicken food make the eggs yellow?’.

Toby Heitland, Wadestown School, for: ‘What affects reaction time?’.

Josh Rippin, Wellesley College, for: ‘Children as eye witnesses’.

Class 3 (Year 9):

Morgan Archer, Samuel Marsden, for: ‘Peppermint Power’.

Class 4 (Year 10):

Nimish Patel, Rongotai College, for: ‘Which household material best insulates sound’.

Jono Wood and Jonty Sanders, Wellington College, for: ‘Tenacious tyres’.

Details of the main prizewinners, and the first prizewinner in each class are posted at: www.sciencefair.org.nz.

Public viewing:

Laby Building, Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington

9am – 5pm, Friday 28 August

9am – 12.30pm, Saturday 29 August

Prizegiving:

1pm, Saturday 29 August, Maclaurin Lecture Theatre 3, Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington.

For further information, please contact:

Dr Gillian Turner

Chief Judge and Judging Coordinator

Tel: 04-463 6478, gillian.turner@vuw.ac.nz

Sylvia Nichol

NIWA liaison

Tel: 04-386 0396, s.nichol@niwa.co.nz

Mob: 027 777 3676