91视频

Three area middle school students won 91视频鈥檚 Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs Watershed Science Award at the 2020 virtual Ohio Academy of Science District 12 Science Day. The event drew 55 entries from students in grades 5 through 12 in Athens, Hocking, Jackson, Meigs, Morgan, Ross and Vinton counties.

OHIO Appalachian Watershed Research Group selected the winning projects that addressed local watershed research. Each of the winners received a certificate, medal and $100 gift card. The award was funded by the Voinovich School and a grant from American Electric Power Foundation to introduce middle and high school students to 91视频鈥檚 science and watershed research.

鈥淭he award recognizes the hard work each student put in their project and reinforces learning with the help of a monetary award, which will encourage future projects in environmental science and water,鈥� Jen Bowman, director of environmental programs at the Voinovich School and a lead member on the Appalachian Watershed Research Group, said.

The awards were presented to:

• Miles Makosky of Athens Middle School, whose project, 鈥淭he Effect of AMD on Plant Life,鈥� researched how plants grown in acid mine drainage had altered growth compared to plants grown with clean water, high pH water and low pH water.

Image

• Reiley Whittington, a student from Zane Trace Middle School, tested the safety and cleanliness of various drinking water sources such as bottled, tap and well for her project, 鈥淪afe Water.鈥� This is Whittington鈥檚 second year winning this award.

Image

• Emerson Crowl from Athens Middle School investigated the rate of degradation of compostable materials that can be used for take-out food. The project, 鈥淭he Biodegradation Race,鈥� aimed to find a solution for trash.

Image

Amid coronavirus concerns, this year鈥檚 science fair was held online. Students had the first half of April to record and upload videos and photos of their project. Selected students with superior ratings at the district fair were invited to compete at the Ohio Academy of Science鈥檚 State Science Fair, which was held virtually at the end of May.

鈥淪cience fairs are important because they foster a sense of curiosity for learning and knowing how things work,鈥� Natalie Kruse, associate professor and director of the Environmental Studies program, said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad we were still able to hold the fair this year to continue fostering the same.鈥�

For more information, visit ohio.edu/scifair and .