Loudoun Students Compete at Annual Science Fair

Stone Bridge Freshman, Dominion Senior Win Big

By Kevin Myrick

Friday, March 14, 2008

Projects on exotic plants and a butter-flavored chemical used in microwavable popcorn took top honors Thursday night during the 27th annual Loudoun County Public Schools Science and Engineering Fair.

Erica Gouse, a senior at Dominion High School, and Jun Hong Kim, a freshman at Stone Bridge, each garnered "Best of Fair" awards. The wins earned them a chance to compete in May at the International Science Fair in Atlanta.

When Gouse's project was announced as one of the two top winners, she said she was flabbergasted.

"I was so shocked and I was bursting out in tears," she said. "When they said my title I was overjoyed. My hard work really paid off."

The winner of several awards during the evening, Gouse said she spent weeks researching before coming up with the idea to study a chemical suspected of causing a disease called "popcorn lung" that turned up in workers at microwave-popcorn factories.

"I did lots of research online and read science articles and tried to find something that interested me," she said. In 2007 an instance of the disease was reported by a non-factory worker.

Before announcing the winners, Dominion High School Principal John Brewer said they competed with "the incredible, mind-boggling work of (all) the participants."

Judges looked at scientific creativity, basic knowledge and also the presentation of the project, he said.

Kim calmly shared the stage with Gouse as his final award of the evening was announced. His project on exotic plants and the negative impact they can have on a local ecosystem had already earned him several awards earlier in the evening.

"A lot of people know about animals becoming extinct, but not about how plants become extinct," Kim said. "I wanted to see if I can restore the native plants." He said he plans to continue working on the project during his remaining three years of high school.

Kim and Gouse beat out Michael Fowler, whose project on the correlation of carbon dioxide levels and hurricanes took several prizes--including an award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Photo Gallery

The 27th Annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Photo: 0/1

« Previous | Next »

Larger Version

Jun Hong Kim, a freshman at Stone Bridge High School, and Erica Gouse, a senior at Dominion High School, both took top honors Thursday at the 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at Dominion High School. The two will go on to the International Competition in Atlanta. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Michael Fowler, a senior at Briar Woods High School, said he is planning to study the environment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then pursue a career in research when he finishes school. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Students gathered Thursday at Dominion High School to show off their science projects at the 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair for Loudoun County. The first place winners of the 17 categories will move on to the state science fair being held at George Mason University April. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Erica Gouse, a senior at Dominion High School, stands with her Best of Fair trophy with fair director Odette Scovel. Gouse said she was shocked when her name was called. “When they said my title I was overjoyed," she said. "My hard work really paid off.” (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Odette Scovel presents Stone Bridge High School freshman Jun Hong Kim with the trophy for Best of Fair during the 27th annual Science and Engineering Fair at Dominion High School. Kim's project studied the relationship between natural and invading species of plants and how a fungus combats plant extinction through soil rejuvenation. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Academy of Science student Kirstin Hopper's Earth and Planetary Science project is honored Thursday at the 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Maureen Rice, a sophomore at Potomac Falls High School, stands next to her project on the effectiveness of disinfectant wipes on bacteria in high schools at the 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair at Dominion High School. While Rice didn't take home any awards, she said she felt that her project was still important, especially for the health of students. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Stephanie Fedor, a sophomore at Loudoun Valley High School and avid flutist in her high school's band, focused her project on the difference between the sound of flutes and the materials they are made out of, something she said is a common myth in flute-playing community. Her results found that there was not a significant difference in pitch between materials scientifically. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Michael Fowler, a senior at Briar Woods High School, took the alternate Best of Fair award at the 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair for his project on the correlation between carbon dioxide and hurricanes. Should one of the two winners, Jun Hong Kim or Erica Gouse, be unable to attend, he will fill his or her spot at the upcoming International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta in May. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Pushpit Thohan, left, and Kyle Morgan, right, look at their prizes during Thursday's 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair awards ceremony at Dominion High School. Morgan, a student at Heritage High School, won a $200 prize from Intel for his computer science project. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Students and spectators alike eagerly await the Science and Engineering Fair awards ceremony Thursday evening at Dominion High School for the 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Jun Hong Kim, a freshman at Stone Bridge High School, stands next to his winning project. He studied the relationship between natural and invading species of plants and how a fungus combats plant extinction through soil rejuvenation. (Kevin Myrick)

Larger Version

Spectators and presenters mingled in the Dominion High School gymnasium during the 27th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The fair's winning students will have a chance to compete in next month's state science fairat George Mason University. (Kevin Myrick)

View all thumbnails

Fowler, who was recently accepted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said his project was inspired by the search a middle ground in the debate over global warming.

"In scientific debate, you have scientists who are getting shunned out of the debate because of what they think," Fowler said. "It needs to be a debate where the science can be open."

He said his data, neatly organized in thick, three-ring NOAA binders, showed a slight correlation between carbon dioxide and the strength of hurricanes.

"(I found a) modest correlation. It's not a definite yes and not a definite no," Fowler said. "It's definitely something that needs to be studied further because it could have an impact."

Fowler said he plans to study earth and atmospheric sciences in college.

"I want to do research," he said. "I want to fly into hurricanes or chase tornadoes, something exciting."

Tonight's competition was the culmination of months of hard work that started in September, said Odette Scovel, director of the fair. Students in Thursday's competition earned their chance after winning the science fair at their school. The 17 students who placed No. 1 in each category Thursday will go on to compete with students from other parts of Virginia at the state science fair, which will be held in April at George Mason University.

One requirement of the project was to come up with a practical application, Scovel said.

"If it were an engineering project, and a student were developing a better wheelchair, then it would be for a specific reason," she said. "For instance, it would have to work better on the beach. They would have to come up with some solutions that make it practical or explain why they're studying it."

Although not every winner earned a trip to the competition in Atlanta, other prizes were awarded.

Stephanie Fedor, a sophomore at Loudoun Valley High School, studied a myth among flute players. She said that many players believe that flutes made of different metals sound different from one another.

"There was not any huge difference," Fedor said. "I originally thought there would be a difference. Everyone who has ever played the flute said that, but I was proved wrong."

Other prizes included a laptop and a week at space camp.

Judges ended the evening by encouraging students to participate again next year and by saying that each student had won something by participating in the scientific method.

Tagged: Dominion High School, high schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, schools, science, Science and Engineering Fair

Your Thoughts...

Are you happy that the school year is over?