EVENT ATTRACTS 245 STUDENTS: ANNUAL SCIENCE FAIR UNDER WAY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Derek Watson wanted to prove to his mother that playing Nintendo wasn't "rotting his brain."

The seventh-grade student at L.J. Schultz School completed a science fair experiment asking the question his mother kept posing: "Video Games: Rotting Brains or Sharpening Reflexes?"

Watson was among 245 students competing at the 35th annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair at the Show Me Center Tuesday. The top winners at the regional fair will advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair to be held this summer.

While waiting to be quizzed by judges Tuesday afternoon, Watson said, "I had read articles that playing video games helped people with their reflexes."

He rounded up friends who often play video games and others who don't play and tested their reflexes.

"We had a buzzboard and measured who buzzed in first," he explained. "First we used a light and then a triangle, so we tested visual and audio."

Watson learned that playing video games seems to sharpen reflexes.

Brad Halter, an eighth-grade student at St. Mary Catholic Grade School in Cape Girardeau, wondered which brand of baseball card, Topps or Donruss, would last the longest.

A baseball-card collector himself, Halter read an article in a magazine about the cards having different Ph levels.

"I tore them up, blended them, soaked them in water, and then tested the Ph," Halter said.

He found that Topps lasted longer, although he admitted he wouldn't subject his card collection to such harsh treatment.

A perennial question about building a better mousetrap was addressed scientifically by Adam Francis, a senior at Thomas W. Kelly High School.

He read about farmers controlling moths by attracting them with certain chemicals. "I thought I could alter that to apply to mice, which are common household pests," Francis said.

By reading articles he learned of a chemical that attracts hamsters. "I altered it to attract mice," he said. It worked. He then added alcohol to the chemical to enhance the odor, and it worked better.

"Hopefully this can be used to build a better trap," he said. "We could catch the mice by attracting them rather than using chemicals, which drive them away so they die in the walls."

Carolyn Ford, teacher for academically outstanding students at L.J. Schultz School, said: "They reinforce the scientific process. It also teaches them the importance of being careful and precise."

She said making the display for the fair also teaches students an important skill. "They must visually communicate their experiment," she said. "It's part of selling your product."

An interview with judges also "adds to the maturity of students."

Small St. Joseph Catholic School in Scott City had three entries in this year's fair, the first year they have participated, said science teacher Rhonda Dunham.

"These science experiments give us a better idea of the what science means in every day life," Dunham said.

"Students learn a lot about discipline and self control and confidence by completing these experiments," she said. "I think it really builds character. I'm really proud of all these kids. The experiments show a lot of work has been put in by these kids."

Exhibits will remain on display today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Show Me Center. Awards will be presented Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The science fair is co-sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University and the Southeast Missourian.