Name: Rowena Romano
Age: 16
School: Campbell High
Pastimes: Tennis, reading
Future: Environmental engineer

That curiosity led to Rowena Romano's award-winning science project, in which she tested how effective different types of eyeglass lenses were in screening out ultraviolet radiation.

Using bacteria growing in petri dishes, several types of lenses and a spectrophoto meter to measure UV light, Romano found none of the lenses had 100 percent protection.

Her random sampling of designer eye wear concluded that the Oakley brand was the best, screening out 95 percent of the ultraviolet light.

The project took second place at the Leeward district science fair, winning her a trip to the international science fair in May.

Romano says science is one of her favorite subjects because she enjoys finding out things about the world. Romano wants to enter the field of environmental science and travel around the world to find solutions to oil spills, the depleting ozone layer and global warming.

"It's our world - who else is going to do it," she said. "I want to be part of that, I want to be out there."

Teacher Derek Chow has known Romano for three years and says she is an excellent student.

A senior this fall, Romano has a 4.036 grade-point average. She is the daughter of Bernardito and Slora Romano.