Ingenuity and creativity on show at NIWA Auckland Science Fair
Auckland students are putting their analytical powers to the test as they gear up for the NIWA Auckland City Science and Technology Fair this week.
More than 230 students from 25 schools around Auckland have entered the annual fair which offers $10,000 in total prizemoney across a range of categories. The NIWA Gold Premier Award winner receives $600.
Included in this year’s line-up of innovative projects are:
- Mighty Mangroves – showing how anaerobic respiration relates to lenticel and pneumatophore numbers
- Animal ramp – allows dogs to enter and exit a swimming pool safely
- Plastics to Oil – recycling plastics to make oil
- Driving Right – an ultrasonic car sensor that warns drivers when they cross over the wrong side of the road
- SOS Save our Stars – monitoring the effect of light pollution on the night sky.
A team of judges, including scientists, educators and industry representatives, will select the winners, including prizes for excellence in biology, best use of statistical data, best entomology and the opportunity to be a scientist for a day.
Organising committee member Roberta Batistich says each year students come up with incredibly creative and innovative ideas for their projects.
“There is always something new that will grab your attention and there is keen interest in the fair because such a wide range of ideas are explored.”
The fair, being held at the St Kentigern Boys’ School, 82 Shore Rd, Remuera. It is open to the public on Friday, 21 August from 5pm-8pm and on Saturday, 22 August, from 1pm-6pm. Prize giving will be held on Monday, 31 August.
NIWA also sponsors the Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Wellington science and technology fairs.
For more information see: www.scifair.org.nz.
