Students are a sceptical lot going by the entry titles into this year’s NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair.
More than 300 entries to the annual fair from 34 schools are being judged this week where they are competing for about $16,000 in total prize money across a broad range of categories, including best overall exhibit.
Many of this year’s entrants have taken a questioning look at everyday issues or have challenged claims made about products.
Topics covered this year include:
- Is Porirua tap water safe to drink?
- Are coffee grinds actually good for plants?
- Are claims that liquid soap is 99% germ free correct?
- Are cheap batteries worth the money?
Then there is a clutch of weather-related projects that include trying to predict the right scenarios for tornados, investigating climate change and working out if it’s possible to build a homemade wind turbine out of recycled materials to produce enough power to charge a cell phone.
Teachers on hand at the fair may want to check out one project it particular. It examines the correlation between teachers and personality types, questioning whether there is a particular personality type for teachers.
This year the fair takes place at the former Karori Teachers’ College with public viewing this Friday from 1-3pm.
NIWA is a sponsor of six other regional science and technology fairs.
For more information see: www.sciencefair.org.nz
