2012 Finalists

Jeff Barrett
Keebra Park State High School, QLD
Project Title: Keeping The Balance
Jeff s project aimed to investigate the effects of common pollutants on algae. The recent Brisbane floods inspired the experiment and pollutants such as diesel, petrol, pesticide and two fertilisers were tested. The diesel and pesticide killed the algae while the petrol and fertilisers largely increased algal populations.

Ethan Butson
The Illawarra Grammar School, NSW
Project Title: Invention and characterisation of UView protector badge
Ethan worked with primary school children to improve their knowledge of UV radiation and UV exposure using the UView Protector badge. This circular sticker badge accurately measures ultra violet radiation and allowed Ethan to significantly improve other students' knowledge of UV radiation as well as educate them about when and where they are exposed to it.

Jacky Chi
Queensland Academy of Health Sciences, QLD
Project Title: Cryptobiosis in Physarum Polycephalum
Jacky examined the impacts of prolonged desiccation on the ability of slime mould, Phsarum Polycephalum, to mobilise and access food. His investigation showed that when the slime mould was subjected to more desiccation it then spent greater energy on gaining food rather than growing.

Aki Flame
Newington College, NSW
Project Title: Microbial growth in the inner ear canal with frequent use of inner earphones
Aki's study involved 30 male high school student volunteers who listen to music using earphones placed either in the auditory canal or covering the auditory canal. The study confirmed that inner earphones usage showed a significant increase of over 400% of microbial growth in the ear as compared to earphones that covered the canal. This may be due to inner earphones sealing the ear canal resulting in increased moisture, temperature and earwax build up - optimal microbial growth conditions.

Jessica Garrett
Telopea Park School, ACT
Project Title: Environmental Factors Influencing left Hemiplegic Stroke Recovery
While helping her father recover from a very severe stroke, Jessica noticed that deeply patterned or multi-coloured carpets adversely affected his walking during rehabilitation. Her project presents results from interviews and observations, which demonstrate that colour and pattern on a carpet significantly influences the walking speed and confidence levels of recovering left hemiplegic stroke patients.

Henry Harding
Trinity Anglican School, QLD
Project Title: An Investigation into Human Echolocation
Henry's project considered echolocation (the use of echoes to analyse surroundings) and evaluated the capability of humans to use it. He recorded and analysed sounds as they were reflected off a variety of objects and from a range of positions. Observation of the natural ability of an untrained human to use echolocation to identify the presence of a large object at close range was evaluated. Results showed that human echolocation is a feasible aid to blind people, particularly with mechanical enhancement.

Tobias Hingston
Queensland Academy of Health Sciences, QLD
Project Title: The Production of Methane For Use as a Viable Fuel Source
Tobias found that it is possible to enhance the output and production of methane from organic matter via the natural inoculation bacteria - Bacillis subtillis. He found that the higher the concentration of bacteria, the more methane produced. As methane could be used as an energy source in the future he suggests bacteria could be used at landfill sites to produce a renewable electricity source.

Louise Jettner
Darwin High School, NT
Project Title: Does Tape Protect Windows
Louise investigated which tape configuration best protects glass windows from damage inflicted by a projectile. Using a self designed window and pendulum system, she determined that a window completely covered in tape withstood the greatest force and provided the best protection. However, if time and money is a constraint then an 8-point star configuration is the next best option. Overall she found that while taping windows provided some protection it was not a huge benefit.

I-Ji Jung
Queensland Academy of Health Sciences, QLD
Project Title: Polymer Power: Extracting Heavy Metal Using Sodium Polyacrylate
I-Ji's project examined the use of sodium polyacrylate as an economical alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods. The polyacrylate was used to filter out copper, zinc and lead from aqueous solutions. Increasing masses of sodium polyacrylate resulted in a greater amount of heavy metal removal from the water. More research needs to be done to mimic actual wastewater but I-Ji suggests sodium polyacrylate could be a viable alternative to treating some key contaminated waterways in Queensland.

Madison Kelly
Queensland Academy of Health Sciences, QLD
Project Title: Portland Cement as a CO2 Scrubber
Madison's project was aimed at finding a way of reducing the significant carbon dioxide emissions of cement production. She created cement with varying levels of magnesium oxide and found whilst an increase in magnesium oxide concentrations resulted in greater CO2 absorption, the strength of the cement was detrimentally diminished.

Isobel Leece
Methodist Ladies' College, Vic
Project Title: What is the Effect of Feral Sambar Deer on the Growth of Australian Shining Gum
Isobel's project examined two planted crops of Shining Gum Eucalypts, one in an area populated by the feral Sambar deer and another area not populated by deer. By performing statistical analysis on data collected from the two areas she determined that the presence of deer affected tree height, accurate to 95%. This supported her hypothesis that the presence of feral Sambar deer results in shorter and fewer saplings in the area.

Antony McNamee
Queensland Academy of Health Sciences, QLD
Project Title: Toothaches and Tribal Medicine - a chemical analysis of Petalostigma pubescens berry
Antony performed a quantitative pharmacological investigation of native Quinine berries (Petalostigma pubescens); a toothache bush remedy used by the Aboriginal peoples of Australia for thousands of years. He found that there is a linear relationship between the duration that the berries are held in the mouth and the concentration of Shikimic acid (the berry's active ingredient) released.

Sarah Thomas
Somerset College, QLD
Project Title: Understanding the Role of Inflammation in Alzheimer s Disease
Sarah's project investigated a molecular pathway thought to be relevant in the degeneration of neural cells linked with the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Her tests using mice showed, contrary to the published data based on simulated environments, that Interleukin 1 B, an important protein involved in the transmission of messages between cells did not increase the toxicity of one of the molecular hallmarks of Alzheimer s disease.

Patricia Varela Diaz
Redeemer Baptist School, NSW
Project Title: Does one bad battery spoil the bunch?
Patricia's project demonstrates that mixing new and old batteries defy mathematical logic. For instance, the luminous power of two half charged batteries was 6.8% greater than one full and 1 half charged battery! Patricia concluded that mixing full and fractionally discharged batteries significantly reduces their performance, perhaps due to changes in the internal resistance of the battery.

Kyle Willimott
Barker College, NSW
Project Title: Performance characteristics of a thermoelectric generator: A green energy alternative
Kyle's project involved the building of a Thermoelectric Generator, which converts heat energy directly into electrical energy without the use of moving mechanical parts. Potential applications include eliminating alternators in cars and placing Thermoelectric Generators in industrial processes to recover and utilise heat, which would otherwise be lost. This technology is important because it can be used all year round wherever a heat source is available and presents a strong green energy alternative.