Scientists earn recognition at statewide expo

Elise Brown
April 9, 2013

Having impressed the judges at the CREST Jane Goodall Science Symposium on March 14 and 15, 25 West Linn students advanced to the Northwest Science Expo on April 5. Nine of West Linn’s projects were recognized at this “state championship” affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Dylan Martins, freshman, won second place in the microbiology field for his work with bioluminescent bacteria. He also received a $9000 scholarship from the University of Oregon, renewable for four years.

“They showed my name too early on the PowerPoint during the awards ceremony, so they showed it for a little while, then went back,” Martins said of when he learned he had won. “I didn’t know if I was just seeing things or crazy or what, but when they announced my name, I just felt great.”

Martins said he is “considering” using his scholarship at the University of Oregon in the future.

Coming in second place for behavioral and social science were Caleb Archuleta and Duncan Prince, juniors, who looked into attempting to explain deja vu. Third place in that same category went to Krista Wurscher, freshman, and her search for an association between handedness and language disorders.

Second place in plant sciences went to Kim Tran, junior, and her research of commercial soils and fungicides. Winning third in physics and astronomy for his project on laser refraction in different solutes was Henry Li, sophomore.

The Army Research Office recognized two projects with its award for Scientific and Engineering Excellence: an investigation into using lasers to eradicate E. coli spearheaded by Shana Feltham and Melanie Martinsen, sophomores; and a study of piezoelectric energy harvesting done by Caroline and Diana Swanson, sophomores.

Arianna Hall, Clara Altemus and Zoe Maxwell, seniors, received the Association of Energy Engineers’ award for Outstanding Project Related to Energy Management and Sustainability. Their rain-powered water wheel is also taking them to the International Sustainable World Energy/Engineering/Environment Project Olympiad in May.

The Indus Entrepreneurs of Oregon awarded Milo Webster, junior, with an honorable mention for the entrepreneurship he showed with his project: optimizing teacher websites.

Team Oregon for the ISEF fair in Arizona this May will include Webster and Camille Collier, sophomore.

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About the Contributor

Elise Brown, Co Editor-in-Chief

Elise Brown, senior, has always felt comfortable standing up and giving her opinion in front of everyone and for the most part, she enjoys it very much. That is one of the many reasons why she heads the debate team, and also why in June she earned a place in the National Speech and Debate Competition in Indianapolis.

Out of the 250 people entered in the competition, she finished 151st in the country. Before she earned her rightful place in Nationals, however, she needed to prove herself in Districts and State.

Her 10 minute long speech about socialism and its benefits took first and second in Districts and State, respectively.

“In the National competition the judges didn’t appreciate politics or controversy as much as they did in Districts and State,” Brown said. This was confirmed from one of the judges she conversed with in order to find out what she could do better.

Brown’s interest in current events started in the eighth grade. She then did the Amplifier, the high school newspaper to help communicate her ideas about the world with her fellow peers, she also did the debate team to better understand the problems throughout the world and learn how to solve them somewhat.

“Debate involves knowing what is going on in the world,” Brown said.

This year for upcoming competitions, she has a speech in the works that she feels will top her last one. This year’s speech is about interdependence inspired by the “you didn’t build that debate,” caused when President Barack Obama told business people that they did not create their businesses on their own.

Brown’s passion for debate has influenced what college she will go to, what she will study in college, and what she wants to do in her life. Brown’s goal is to graduate high school and then travel to Massachusetts and attend Wellesley College, a very well known and prestigious college, where Brown hopes to study political science.

To achieve this goal she has taken part in a number of rigorous courses and activities such as Speech and Debate, AP Government, AP Economics, Honors Law, AP English and journalism. Once Brown achieves her education goals, her next goal is to become a political commentator.

“I want to change people’s minds,” Brown said. Brown has chosen the path to become a political commentator because she believes political power lies with the media.

Brown has worked very hard throughout high school and continues to work hard through her senior year. She has taken many challenging courses to achieve her goal of going to Wellesley, and will need to continue down the very rigorous path to success to accomplish her goals.