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Science-Minded Students Demonstrate What's Fair

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By MICHELE SAGER

msager@tampatrib.com

Published: February 27, 2009

TAMPA - Are expensive, brand-name paper towels more absorbent than generic? Which batteries last the longest? Is there a difference in bottled waters?

Hundreds of Hillsborough County students tackled such consumer issues at the Hillsborough Regional Science and Engineering Fair this week. The top science students from the county's public and private schools showed off their projects. Winners were named Thursday night.

Many students focused on consumer science this year, testing products to determine which performed best and were worth buying.

The struggling economy likely inspired many of the projects, parent Susan Williamson said.

"I think the economy is influencing everything we do," she said. "It's a good lesson for kids because they learn which products are worth the money."

Her son Brandon, a fifth-grader at Cork Elementary, compared fresh-squeezed orange juice to store brands to determine which contained the most Vitamin C. He concluded that oranges from his backyard provided a more nutritious glass of juice.

"I definitely learned something from my project," said Brandon, 11. "We bought a juicer, and now we've switched to making our own juice because it costs less money and is better for you.

The fair featured more than 1,000 projects. Winners will represent the county at the State Science and Engineering Fair in Lakeland in April.

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843.

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