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Today's Student, Tomorrow's Scientist
What's in you baby's diaper? And why would you want to know. Well, most people don't want to know what's in their child's diaper, but 14 year old Alaina Comeaux did want to find out what diaper works best, disposable or cloth. While testing diapers for science projects isn't the traditional approach to learning the basic principles of science, methodology and research, but when you are participating in the annual Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair (LSEF) anything is possible. "The science fair is the perfect opportunity for students to learn how to research a problem, learn about the scientific method and how to apply it to solving a problem," said Jacquelyn Johnson, coordinator for the Department of Continuing Education. "Additionally, it gives the students the opportunity to present their ideas to a group of professionals in the various fields of research. Frequently, the impact of this type of program is not realized until the students are taking their ACT or SAT exams. The scores for students that have participated in these types of programs are usually numerous points higher, due to having the skills to solve a multitude of problems and follow the steps of the scientific method."
Comeaux, along with 650 of the state's most promising future engineers and scientists, competed in this year's 50th annual LSEF. In addition to testing diapers, projects included testing how leaves interact with light, which mint works best to battle bad breath and testing how cells cope with stress. Comeaux, who attends Catholic High school in New Iberia decided to test which diaper works best after her parents' friends' child became allergic to disposable diapers. But Glasglow Elementary student Stephen Wang, who tested how leaves interact with light in Baton Rouge was motivated by a professor at Southern University. "My parents are friends with a professor from Southern University and she brought me to her lab where I used a spectrophotometer," 11 year old Wang said. "I really enjoyed using it and when I found out about the LSEF I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use it (spectrophotometer) again." The fair, sponsored by the LSU Department of Continuing Education, features competitions between sixth through 12th grade students. The students must win at a regional level before entering the state level. Students compete in 13 categories, in either the junior or senior division, ranging from behavioral and social sciences to biochemistry.
Not only is the fair fun and interesting for participants and observers, but the LSEF also touches the inventive mind and imagination as nothing else can. Science fair projects involve young and creative minds in problems that advance knowledge, enhance people's lives and improve the profitability of business and industry. "Historically, Louisiana's delegation of students do very well at the international competition, said Douglas Weimer, associate dean of the Division of Continuing Education. "Last year the group won $13,000 at the international competition." After winning at the national level in 1999, Rachel Cox won the Intel Fellows Achievement Award for her research on a soybean bacterium. In 1998, New Iberia's Adam Hebert and Ben Gulotta won the same award for their four-year study on the effect of the weight of books in backpacks and their improved backpack design. Medical researchers are still investigating a scientific paper published on a science fair project by Carolyn Day, who discovered an amino acid inhibitor that prevents the formation of deadly mucus in cystic fibrosis patients. Contact LSU
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