Science students shine again

Powell repeats

Kira Powell has returned from the 50th Annual Science and Humanities Symposium held this year in Bethesda, Md., where she once again earned first place in Environmental Science and, once again, could fly to London, England to represent the United States at the London International Youth Science Forum, just as she did last year. Her decision to attend is still uncertain, as the timing may interfere with fall college activities, and, altruistically, says her advisor, Odessa science teacher Jeff Wehr, she may want another person to experience the London Forum as she did last year. This national first place secures her another large scholarship to be used anywhere she chooses to attend college.

Powell began her research two years ago, observing that her local environment had very little rainfall. Living in a rural, dry-land farming community, she saw that rainfall was the life force of the economy. She continued her science research and engineered a new wheat seed treatment. Her investigation into “The Development of a Novel Sodium Polyacrylate Seed Treatment" continues to impress both the agricultural and scientific communities.

She has presented her science research this year at the Inland Northwest Science Symposium in Spokane, the state Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Seattle, the Mid-Columbia Regional Science Fair in Kennewick and the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair in Bremerton. At all these events she has earned the top award and prizes including scholarships, cash, certificates, pins, plaques and the opportunity to attend both the symposium in Maryland and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Saturday she flies to Pittsburgh, where she will show her science research to people from over 50 other countries in hopes of earning other science accolades.

The Society for Science & the Public, Intel Corporation and the Pittsburgh Host Committee are putting on the 63nd annual fair May 14 - 18. It the world's largest international pre-college science competition and provides an annual forum for more than 1,500 high school students from over 50 countries, regions and territories to showcase their independent research. The Intel ISEF is the premiere global science competition for students in grades 9-12.

Wehr gets bronze

Thorsen Wehr, a freshman at Odessa High School, was awarded a bronze medal (third place) in engineering, in addition to a certificate and a cash award at the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environment Project Olympiad (ISWEEEP) last weekend. Top high-school researchers from all over the world displayed their innovative ideas at the event which took place at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. More than 700 participants shared their scientific ideas, experience and knowledge to promote global sustainability in the near future.

As an eighth-grader at Odessa Jr./Sr. High School enrolled in a class of independent study called advanced science research, Wehr was reading a Popular Science article about the clicking-ball desk-toy called a Newton’s Cradle. The article led to create his own device which focuses sound much like a regular glass lens focuses light. He titled his project “Focusing Sound Waves Using a Nonlinear Acoustic Lens.”

He previously presented his science research at a variety of events, including the Inland Northwest Science Symposium in Spokane, the State Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Seattle, the Mid-Columbia Regional Science Fair in Kennewick and the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair in Bremerton (where last year he was awarded the title of Washington Science Student of the Year, after which he presented his research to the Cal-Tech physics department).

He also earned a place to present his research at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Bethesda, Md. last week, along with fellow Odessa student Kira Powell. However, he opted to go to the ISWEEEP international forum in Texas instead.

The ISWEEEP Committee exposed the participants and their mentors to various events and activities including the Houston Natural Museum and the NASA Johnson Space Center during their stay. After two days and a grueling 12 hours of judging, Wehr was awarded third-place bronze medal in the category of engineering. Three students from the state of Washington attended the event, and all earned medals (two bronzes and a gold).

Thorsen was accompanied by his advisor (and father), Odessa High School science teacher Jeffery Wehr, who shared his son’s excitement about earning this award. They also enjoyed meeting several new-found friends from Romania, Turkey, China and Russia.

Regarding his ISWEEEP experience, Thorsen said, “Getting to see and talk to other students from other countries: how their government works, how their language works and how they conduct their research was really a highlight for me. I have made new friends across the Earth, and I know I will keep in contact.”