Earlier today, February 15th, Rollins College hosted the 7th annual Dr. Nelson Ying Orange County Science Exposition at the Alfond Sports Center. The event showcased science research from the best and brightest middle and high school students in the area.
“I was very impressed with the original ideas at the Orange County Science Fair this year,” Dr. Fiona Harper, Assistant Professor of Biology, Rollins College said. “A lot of the projects focused on sustainability and environmental initiatives. One student was making a case for bio-degradable lunch trays for the District and another was investigating how rooftop gardens affect the temperature inside buildings.”
Exhibits were judged in 13 different categories, including biochemistry, botany, computers, earth/space, engineering, mathematics and physics.
“Talking with the participants, it also struck me that many had personal connections to their projects, which made their motivation even stronger” says Harper. “For example, one student studied cellular therapy in ovarian cancer because his grandmother died of the cancer several years ago.”
There were several innovative projects at the expo including:
- Can a Dog Lower Pressure of an Elderly Person – by 8th grader Chris Wattles of the International Community School in Winter Park. He found that seven out of nine subjects experienced a drop in systolic blood pressure when “therapy dogs” came to visit them. He actually visited an assisted living facility near his house to get the project done. Wattles, if though the project is complete, continues to visits the residents at the assisted living facility.
- A Little More Money, a Lot Less Trash – 8th grader Kristen Dugan of Conway Middle School – this project focused on why Orange County Schools should switch to biodegradable lunch trays.
- Handy Cane – freshman Nicole Clark of University High School invented a new type of walking cane that featured a cell phone holder and charger, medicine case and emergency button. She was inspired to do the project because her grandfather said he wished his cane had these things.
- Residential Roadkill – 8th grader Sam Greene from St. Margaret Mary School studied the impact of higher residential traffic areas and its impact on wildlife. He studied roads in Winter Park and found the highest percentage of road kill were among those that had the highest number of vehicles per day.
- Cellular Therapy of Ovarian Cancer – sophomore Collin Edwards at Lake Highland Prep School. He partnered with Florida Hospital labs to conduct his research (it’s a program that runs through his school). This topic was close to his heart because his grandmother died of ovarian cancer.
- Controlling Infrared Emissivity of Electroless Nick Boron coated Metal Alloy Saw Blades – 11th grades Audrey Leasure and Gennifer Rubin from Lake Highland Prep School
- To Carp or Not to Carp? – Jay Nisbett and Pierce Haggard of Edgewater High School.
Seventeen schools in Orange County participated in today’s expo: Avalon Middle, Apopka Middle, Conway Middle, Discovery Middle, International Community School, Lake Eola Charter, Liberty Middle, Orlando Science Middle, South Creek Middle, Union Park Middle, Edgewater High, University High, Lake Highland Preparatory, The Orlando Lutheran, Orlando Science Middle, Page Private School and St. John Vianney Catholic School.
With today’s science exposition behind them, students are already looking ahead to next year’s, wanting to improve their projects. “That shows long-term commitment to their research and science is all about improvement and constant progress,” Harper said.
Rollins College is the only private college in Florida to have a Nobel Prize winner in science. It is no accident therefore that, current president, Lewis Duncan, has made science a central focus of the college’s work.
