Hawaii kids advance Six Hawaii students have been selected as the 2001 semifinalists for the third annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge.
in science challenge
The 6 students are vying for
a shot at Washington, D.C.Star-Bulletin staff
They are among 400 middle school students who will compete for a "Final Forty" to go to Washington, D.C., on Oct. 20 to participate with Smithsonian Institution scientists in challenges related to renewable energy, genetic mapping and animal conservation.
Five of Hawaii's semifinalists were nominated at this year's Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair, sponsored by the Hawaii Academy of Science.
Three are from St. Andrew's Priory:
>> Cara Alexis Chang, sixth grade. Her project tried to answer the question, "Do Oriental fruit flies have a preference for genetically-modified or organically-grown papayas?"
>> Yuko Hara, eighth grade. His project was called, "The Effect of the Number of Trials on the Results of Probability Tests According to the Theory of Probability."
>> Amber Chiemi Kuitunen, sixth grade, who studied the "effect of enzymes on various laundry detergents."
The other three semifinalists are:
>> Ryan Kin McGinnis, sixth-grader at Iao School, Maui, who tested alternative wicks.
>> Kimberly Elise Reinhold, eighth-grader at St. Joseph Junior/Senior High School, Hilo. Her project was called "Plant Tumorigenesis: A Study of Parasite-Induced Disease in Hibiscus."
>> Ihilani Frances Toshiko Haru, Ben Parker Elementary School sixth-grader, nominated from the Windward District Science Fair. Her project was called, "Effect of Different Treatments on the Germination of the California Rutgers Supreme Tomato Plants."
The finalists will be announced Sept. 10. Hawaii had four finalists in last year's competition.
One, Jonathan James Eno of Baldwin High, placed third in the annual Discovery Young Scientist Challenge.
The contest is sponsored by Discovery Communications Inc. and Science Service in an attempt to address the country's underachievement in science and math.
Judging is based on leadership, teamwork, scientific problem solving and the ability to be an effective science communicator.
More than 200 girls are among the nation's 400 semifinalists, continuing a trend showing significant interest in science among girls ages 9 through 14, the Hawaii Academy of Science noted.
Kyle O'Conner, director of the Young Scientist Challenge program, said it is designed to encourage the critical middle school age group to build upon their skill and enthusiasm for scientific inquiry when many of their peers are losing interest.
"These amazing kids are proof that science can be cool and gender neutral with the right amount of encouragement."