District 5 Students Attend International Science and Engineering Fair

Four students from Lexington-Richland School District Five participated last week in the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest high school research competition. 

Chapin High student Sean Kruzner, Irmo High student Eric Johnson, and Dutch Fork High student Elishua Lo represented The Center for Advanced Technical Studies (The Center) with their project “Optimization of a Bent Arm Trebuchet,” a catapult device utilizing weights instead of springs.

Irraj Iftikhar represented Dutch Fork High School with her project “The Efficiency of Biodiesel from Different Sources of Oil.” 

Nearly 1,600 young scientists were selected to participate in the week-long event, held this year in Phoenix. The students were chosen from 433 science fairs in more than 70 countries and regions. The University of South Carolina, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and an anonymous party sponsored the students from District Five. 

“Science fairs like this are about communicating, giving your ideas and seeing what others are doing," said Dr. Martin Cwiakala, mentor and engineering design teacher at The Center. "This competition encourages our students to create devices and ideas that will impact our society.” 

Students attended numerous seminars, which ranged in topics from funding projects and businesses to presenting research work. A panel session entitled “Excellence in Science and Technology” was also held in which students were invited to a conversation with Nobel Laureates J. Michael Bishop, H. Robert Horvitz, Harold Kroto and Douglas Osheroff. 

On the final day of presentations, the session “So You Want to be an Astronaut?” provided students with an opportunity to meet Col. James Dutton with the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and Astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps. 

To qualify for the international fair, students are required to undergo at least one level of competition by participating in a state, regional, or national science fair affiliated with Intel ISEF. Finalists are chosen from that field and go on to compete for more than $3 million in prizes and scholarships. 

A 19-year-old student from Romania took this year’s first place prize by creating a viable model for a low-cost, self-driving car. The design featured 3-D radar and mounted cameras that could detect traffic lanes and curbs.

Submitted by Lexington-Richland School District Five.