Valencia Elementary School Science Fair - Feb 16, 2006

I volunteered to be a judge for this science fair. My experience at last year at the Intel International Science Fair was so rewarding, and I was happy to help encourage these young people. My friends Rick and Kim Ferrell's daughter Jamie had an entry, so I was looking forward to seeing her and her project. There were some really good projects, and I'm glad I was able to help reward these great kids and encourage them in having fun with science. Here's some pictures of some of the winners who earned a place in the Santa Cruz County science fair finals.

Jamie's water filter project earns a spot on the short list and she's on to the County finals. Little sis Kelsey adds her adorable smile to the presentation.

Jamie hand-colored her careful microscope views of all the nastiness in those water samples

Tina's experiment found what materials provide the most static electricity (so she can zap her brother, she says) and was best-in-show in my humble opinion.

Here's an experiment testing different magnet's levitation power in a home-made mag-lev train (a'la Japan's famous Bullet Train)