Young Foothills scientist up for national award

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Young Foothills scientist up for national award

http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2005/09/07/education/education02.txt

September 7, 2005 - Erstad has the mind of a brilliant scientist, the

accuracy of a reputable mathematician and the know-how to turn it all into a

career, but he is only in the sixth grade.

The 11-year-old Orange Grove Middle School student has been chosen as one of

400 semifinalists for the seventh annual Discovery Channel Young Scientist

Challenge.

The selection is an honor of national proportion that could land the

pint-size scientist scholarships, federal recognition and further

science-related opportunities worldwide.

It all started last year when was given an injection, something he

frequently receives as a carrier of juvenile arthritis. This time, the

medication-filled syringe he was used to seeing was replaced with a larger

one, prompting the young science-minded student to question the accuracy of

the measurement.

questions many things. Chalk that up to genetics. His father , is

a professor at the University of Arizona in the College of Pharmacy, and his

mother is an electrical engineer. Some might say that math and science run

through his blood. All knew was that he had an experiment on his hands.

After he received his injection, his mind went to work, and his father

opened up the lab and let the young man go, he said.

" I was quality control, " Erstad said, making sure to point out that

his son did all of the work for the project, himself.

began this project as any scientist would. He formed a hypothesis. He

believed that a larger syringe size would lower the level of accuracy in

measuring liquid - water, for his experiment.

He spent hours in the lab, watched closely by his father, he said. He

measured three syringe sizes time after time, 270 times, total, he said. And

when everything was measured, computed and tallied, 's hypothesis was

correct.

When he used the largest syringe, 10 milliliters, to measure .5 milliliters

of water, the reading was the most inaccurate, he said.

" That surprised me, " said. He trusted his son but didn't fully believe

that using a larger syringe would make much difference in the amount of

liquid dispensed. But clearly knew better, he said.

took his results to the 50th-anniversary Southern Arizona Regional

Science and Engineering Fair, held last March at the Tucson Convention

Center. He was one of the winners in his grade level, he said.

While at the fair, he was chosen as a finalist for the Discovery Channel

Young Scientist Challenge. He had no idea there was even another chance to

win something, he said. When he found out, he was thrilled.

" I was really amazed and surprised, " he said.

's science project, titled " Accuracy and reproducibility of small volume

injections using different syringe sizes, " was one of five projects created

by Southern Arizona students chosen as semifinalists for the national

competition.

Conrad Hom from Bloom Elementary, Brigg Jannuzi and Teyvan Lowe from Doolen

Middle School and from St. Cyril School were among the other

local qualifiers.

More than 60,000 students around the globe enter science fairs annually and

are eligible for the national competition. That number is then stripped down

to 6,000 middle school students nominated by the science fair directors. The

competition is the only one if its kind, according to its Web site. After

the nominations are in, the competition's judges select 400 semifinalists,

and this year was one of the chosen.

Students are judged on the scientific merit of their projects and their

ability to communicate the science of them, according to the Web site.

now must wait for the official word, to see if his science project was

one of the 40 chosen finalists. If so, he will receive an all-expense-paid

trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the finals in October. The winners

will receive scholarships and prizes.

For right now, said he is just content with the certificate he received

naming him one of the 400 semifinalists.

Caryl , librarian at Ventana Vista Elementary School and 's

legorobotics advisor, said she was not at all surprised to hear about his

nomination.

" He really does thrive for trying to figure out problems, " she said. " He's a

real good explorer. "

Proving a great mind never rests, is already rounding up the materials

for his next science project. He will use the same principal, but this time,

instead of drawing water into different-size syringes, he will use his

arthritis medicine to see if that will make a difference with the results.