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Terrebonne students advance to state and international science fairs; two headed to ISEF
Summary
Terrebonne Parish reported 73 students from eight schools entered the parish science fair; 14 qualified for the Louisiana state fair and two students will compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
A district staff presenter told the Terrebonne Parish School Board that 73 students from eight schools participated in this year’s parish science fair, that 14 of those students qualified to compete at the Louisiana state fair at LSU, and that two students qualified to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
The presenter said the parish fair serves more than 1,000 students across the district’s schools and is open to grades 6–12. “Every year, we affiliate with the International Science and Engineering Fair,” the presenter said, noting ISEF is one of roughly 400 affiliated fairs worldwide and that finalists at ISEF face about 1,600–2,000 other finalists. The presenter added that students undertake practices aligned to the state’s 2017 science standards including asking questions, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing data and developing models.
At the state fair the district sent six students; three of those six placed at the state level. The presenter named a first-place state winner in physics and astronomy, Rhys Cook, and said a senior student, Amari Griffin from Terrebonne, placed first in animal science with a project on cheese mites.
The presentation included examples of winning projects: one junior grand-prize project examined water hyacinth’s ecological impact, and an international-qualifying student tested germs in a restaurant bathroom (presenter declined to name the restaurant). The presenter said the district maintains a running list of grand-prize winners dating to 1977.
Two students — identified in the packet as Noah Nacham (South Terrebonne) and Ava Porsche (Terrebonne) — were noted as qualifiers to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair, which the presenter said has previously been held in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh and will be in Columbus, Ohio this year. The presenter said ISEF offers large scholarship opportunities for outstanding placements.
Board members thanked the presenter and recognized community sponsors, the school auditorium for hosting, and volunteers who judge projects. The board did not take a vote on the presentation, which was informational.
