2007 Student Winners
Categories:
First Prize
Ian Cannon and Rickystan Savaiko
Year 12 (2006) Redeemer Baptist School, NSW
Project Title: Versatile Colour Identification and Luminance Contrast Determination
Ian and Rickystan have developed a prototype of a portable photometric device that determines the luminance contrast between two adjacent surfaces. Their device could be useful in improving building design and making spaces more accessible to vision-impaired people. As part of their research, they have also developed a unique mathematical algorithm to determine luminance contrast.
Second Prize
Robbie Bishop-Taylor
Year 10 (2006) Great Lakes College, NSW.
Project Title: The Identification of Critical Salinity Thresholds in Upper Estuarine Plants
Parts of Australia are facing a water shortage. Reduced river flows mean that salt can accumulate in estuarine areas at higher levels than normal. Robbie looked at the critical salinity levels that 5 common upper estuarine plants could tolerate.
Third Prize
Winner of Intel ISEF prize
James Dawson-Smith and Marcus Littlewood
Year 8 (2006) Scotch College, Victoria
Project Title: MP3 Players and Noise Induced Hearing Loss
James and Marcus investigated whether people were using MP3 players in a way that could damage their hearing. They compared their results to acceptable OHS levels for acceptable noise exposure limits. As a result several of their friends have turned down the volume on their MP3s.
As well as this, Marcus and James have won the Intel ISEF prize, which includes a trip to US in May this year to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
GRDC Award
Megan Weller
Year 12 (2006) Kingaroy State High School, Kingaroy, Queensland.
Project Title: Are Peanuts Able to Effectively Germinate from Intact Pods?
Megan Weller was selected as Winner of GRDC (Grains Research Development Corporation) Award for best Environmental Project. Megan received a framed certificate and $1000 cash prize from GRDC.
Peanut kernels are expensive to purchase as a seed crop. Megan wanted to find out whether germination directly from the pod was possible and whether particular chemicals could improve it. Successful peanut germination directly from pods would save the industry a lot of money and effort.