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Hillsborough Students Display Science Prowess

Tribune photo by Chris Urso

"My findings were inconclusive," Sascha Kline said of her science fair project. Plus, "my mom said, 'As soon as you're done with that, throw it out.' "

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

TAMPA -- Sascha Kline stood in front of her science project and unleashed a big fat yawn. Behind her, the Yeast Beast screamed for attention.

The 9-year-old third-grader at Claywell Elementary School was one of more than 1,000 potential future scientists from more than 100 public and private schools across Hillsborough County.

The exhibits, part of the Hillsborough Regional Science and Engineering Fair, lined the second floor concourse around the cavernous USF Sun Dome today. Screeners and judges shuffled up and down the rows of cardboard stands along with students of all ages and teachers.

Dressed in a scholarly looking red sweater, Sascha explained her exhibit, which was to determine, basically, whether a rotting banana gets hotter or colder.

"Um," she said. "It's about if yeast grows on a banana, will it affect the mass temperature of the banana."

But things got in the way of a proper conclusion, she said. Problems, the kind that turn scientists' hair gray, cropped up with the black and stinky banana. Room temperature and the plastic bag containing the slimy fruit could have affected the outcome.

"My findings were inconclusive," she says. Plus, "my mom said, 'As soon as you're done with that, throw it out.' "

A few rows away, Deepthi Naidu, 11, put the finishing touches on a complex project dealing with semiconductors and resistance and temperature. Her father, Ratakonda Naidu, an engineer, offered his assistance.

The student at Williams Middle Magnet School pointed to her dad when asked where the idea originated. She started work on it a month ago, she said.

Debbie Opp paid close attention to all the exhibits. The teacher of gifted children at Temple Terrace Elementary School is a screener. Her job was to ensure all the exhibits met all the requirements before they were judged.

"I'm looking for things not on the board, things that are loose, that fell off or are sharp," she said. She also makes sure there are no names of students, teachers or schools visible.

"And I make sure there's a log," she said. "There has to be a log."

Bobqueilla Felton, an 11-year-old student at Just Elementary School in Tampa, was eager to talk about her project, an ambitious effort to delve into an issue first brought up by her science teacher.

What freezes faster, saltwater or fresh water?

Bobqueilla launched into a regular dissertation on how the project was set up: that samples of water from the Gulf of Mexico and the Hillsborough River were collected and then put in a freezer; then came meticulous observation.

"The fresh water freezes first," she said. "But the saltwater reached the freezing temperature first."

Students in all grades set up their projects today, and judges were expected to make their decisions by 8 p.m.

The public will be allowed in from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday, and awards will be handed out after that.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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