G-AMS students rank in national science fair
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Seventh-grade science teacher Jeffrey Salawage sits with two of his former students. Last year they entered the Franklin County Science Fair under his tutelage and were nominated for a national competition. Mariah Martin, left, and Blair Boscolo were named semifinalists and received certificates from the Society for Science and the Public.

Two Greencastle-Antrim Middle School students received national recognition for their science fair projects conducted last spring as seventh-graders.

Blair Boscolo titled her project "The Effects of Color on Solar Heating." Mariah Martin titled hers "Factor Friction." Judges at the Franklin County Science Fair nominated them for the 2008 Society for Science and the Public middle school program.

The girls were named semifinalists, joining 300 out of a field of 1,943 entrants in the competition. They submitted written essays on their projects to the Society. The semifinalists represented 42 states and Puerto Rico.

Director of Education Programs for SSP, Michele Glidden, said, "Our evaluators and judges were amazed by the caliber of research these students achieved. The semifinalists and their teachers and parents are truly to be commended."

Blair created a foam board house with a tubing system. "My dad helped with the power tools," she said.

She compared the temperatures of water circulating through the system, based on the color of glass panels under a heat lamp.

"I thought dark glass would absorb heat so it would make it warmer," she said, "but that acted more like sunglasses, reflecting heat. Clear worked the best."

Mariah tested magnetic levitation as it affected car motion on a train track versus the regular wheels. She had two tracks, one with opposing magnetic fields that raised the car. She hit each with a pendulum and measured the distance it traveled.

"Bullet trains in Europe and Japan use the levitation theory," she said.

While they worked under the guidance of science teacher Jeffrey Salawage last year, he will continue to assist seventh graders again this year.

The eighth-grade students are looking forward to the spring Science Fair, which piques the interest of their parents as well.

"Dad already has some ideas," said Mariah.

The president of SSP, Elizabeth Marincola, said, "These talented young scientists are already stepping up to meet the great scientific challenges of tomorrow. Their work will have a real impact on generations to come and reaffirm our vision to inform, educate and inspire the world around us."