SCIENCE FAIR: STUDENTS INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS

Oliver Sanders compared the properties of plastics with his Science Fair project.

Jessie Fluegge hates to admit it, but her mom was right: Listening to music does affect concentration.

Her Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair experiment proves it.

Fluegge, an eighth-grade student at St. Vincent de Paul Grade School, is among hundreds of junior- and high-school students from Southeast Missouri who will compete in the annual District Science Fair.

The 39th fair begins today and continues through Thursday at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau.

Topics range from "Coping with Step Parents" and "Garbage Gardening" to "The Effect of Temperature on the Regeneration of Planarians" and "Consumption of Crude Oil by Pseudomonas Oleovorans and Fertilizer."

Fluegge tested classical, alternative and country music -- and no music -- to see what affect listening had on concentration. Her test subjects listened while separating a deck of cards into suits.

Although the times were very close, Fluegge said her experiment showed those who listened to no music performed best, followed by those who listened to classical music.

Marilyn Peters, who teaches science at St. Vincent, requires seventh-graders to do experiments. Eighth-graders have a choice.

Peters said, "It's really a life skill to take a problem, organize it and find a solution."

She hopes her students will be able to transfer the skills they learn doing science experiments to other problems they may face.

"We're talking about how to organize your problems and experiment with possible solutions," she said.

Other St. Vincent student projects:

-- Oliver Sanders, a seventh-grader, experimented with different kinds of plastics to determine the physical properties. He won first place at the school science fair.

-- Ryan Fenwick, an eighth-grader, looked at "Speeding Up Nature's Green Machine," the photosynthesis rate of elodea, a water plant.

-- Rebecca Mattes, an eighth-grader, wondered how important is the thumb. Very important, she learned.

Mattes had test subjects perform tasks like picking up a coin, tying a shoe and opening a door. Then the subjects wrapped their thumbs with bandages so they couldn't be used, and completed the same tasks. Mattes said the difference was amazing.

-- Scott Reinagel tested apples to see how the skin prevents infection.

-- Tyler Berens questioned if fruits and vegetables would work as catalysts.

-- Jill Edwards, a seventh-grader, tested flashlights to see which batteries provided the most energy for the least amount of money. Her test shows that EverReady is the best buy.

-- Amanda Sharp, a seventh-grader, tested "The Effect of Temperature on Heart Rate of Esturine Fish Fundalis Grandis."

-- Christine Kimball, a seventh-grader, looked at ways to prevent soil erosion.

-- Jennifer Markin tested protein in different types of wheat flour by baking bread. By the time she finished her experiment she had baked 12 loaves of bread.

Markin learned which type of flour had the most protein and how to make a pretty good loaf of bread. "I have the recipe memorized," she said.

The entries will be judged today by professional scientists. Awards and scholarships are given to top, young scientists.

The exhibits are also open to the public. An awards ceremony will be held Thursday night.

The Science Fair is sponsored by the Southeast Missourian, Southeast Missouri State University and Enviromental Analysis South.